Transportation of rabi crop worries farmers

Jammu, April 21

As the lockown has stalled all economic activity in J&K, farmers waiting to harvest their almost-ready rabi crop are a worried lot.

The flight of migrant labourers and apprehensions about the availability of combine harvesters, mostly brought from Punjab, which is also under lockdown, has increased worries of cultivators as wheat, mustard and pulses are approaching maturity in Jammu region, considered as the ‘grain bowl’ of the UT.

As per farmers, the crop will be ready for harvest by April 15.

Although the Central Government has permitted movement of combine harvesters and allied machinery, but the main issue for cultivators are labourers.

Use of machinery is limited to harvesting the crop and thrashing while loading and unloading is done by daily wagers. — TNS