No wheat seed disbursal, farmers livid

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 13

The free of cost wheat seed disbursal in 13 villages of Kapurthala has been hit due to the election code of conduct for the Phagwara bypolls. The government’s decision to disburse wheat seed to flood-affected villagers from October 21 (after the Phagwara bypolls) has earned them farming community’s ire.

Right after the floods, the state government had promised free of cost seeds and fertilisers to farmers. However, the process was stalled due to the elections.

Farmers say their fields will be ready for sowing in a week or 10 days and the government should ensure early disbursal of wheat seed keeping in view the bypoll. They said seed disbursal after October 21 will considerably delay wheat sowing putting farmers in the flood-hit areas in a fix.

Paramjit Singh from Channwindi village said, “The ideal time to sow wheat crop is till October 25. After that it will be too late. The electoral process and other works have taken precedence over farmers’ needs. By the time the government is planning to start seed disbursal, farmers will be forced to make arrangements for wheat seeds and manure/fertilisers on their own. So far only the Khalsa Aid has given us free manure for the sowing season.” He added that the NGO had begun disbursing free manure and also promised free seeds.

Sukhpreet Singh from Passan Kadeem village in Sultanpur Lodhi said, “Farmers need seeds at this time. The provision of seeds after October 21 will be too late and will hit wheat sowing. It is a time-consuming process and neither lists have been made nor any communication made to farmers’ societies regarding provision of seeds. Farmers can’t wait that long. When even girdawari hasn’t been received yet, how can we believe the government will provide seeds in a time-bound manner after October 21.”

Sarwan Singh from Baupur village said, “We have raised these demand several times, but to no avail. After incurring huge losses in the foods, farmers will now be forced to shell Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre on wheat sowing.”

Ashwini Kumar Rambani, Agricultural Officer, Kapurthala, said, “Due to the code of conduct in place because of the bypolls, the seed disbursal shall be started after the polls. We have sent the demand to the government. The seeds shall readily be distributed among farmers if need be from October 21 in the evening itself after the bypolls. The time formally designated by the government for wheat sowing is from October 21 to November 15. Right now it is too early to sow wheat due to the heat.”

Bypoll derails process to procure paddy 

Phagwara: Though government agencies started paddy purchase in the state on October 7, the procurement has been tardy in Phagwara as the official machinery busy with bypoll-related assignments. More than 1.30 lakh bags of paddy are lying in the open. Arhtiya Association, Phagwara, president Kulwant Pabbi said only one sheller owner had purchased around 10,000 bags of paddy till now. Government agencies were purchasing, but not lifting paddy. Heaps of paddy are lying  in the open in mandis.