'Government should make efforts to reduce cultivation cost'

Charanjit Singh Teja

Amritsar, January 16

Despite the government announcement to “double the farmer income till 2022” the agrarian community is struggling with several issues, including high cost of cultivation, poor seed quality, intolerant weather conditions and difficulty in marketing of crops.

After a year-long farm agitation against three farm laws, all political parties have been making tall claims for uplifting the farm economy. However, neither the Centre nor the state governments have made any effort for the policy implementation and reach ground zero to provide relief to farmers.

With the implementation of model code of conduct, political parties and their candidates are again making claims to strengthen the farming sector. However, governments have not been able to provide quality seeds to farmers till the date.

“Farmers spend a huge amount on cultivation of crops. The government should make efforts to reduce the cultivation cost for increasing profit of farmers. Sometimes they have to cultivate crops twice due to bad weather and poor germination of seeds. Fake pesticides also waste their money. The black market of fertilisers due to supply shortage also increases financial burden of farmers. With depletion of the water table, they have to spend huge amount on installing tube wells in deep waters,” said Ajit Singh, a farmer of Vallah village.

“The marketing of non-MSP crops is always an issue. The government provides minimum support price on wheat and paddy only. The market of vegetables, basmati, pulses, oil seeds and maize is not assured. Farmers face major risk after cultivating these crops. Damage of crops should be covered under insurance schemes sponsored by the government,” said Mandeep Singh, a farmer of Tarsika village.

“Instead of doubling the farmer income the government policies are creating economic crises in the agrarian sector. We need agriculture-oriented policies. All crops should be covered under the MSP. It will help in diversification of crops. Political parties discuss about agrarian sector, but don’t make any concrete policy after coming to power,” said Sarwan Pandher, general secretary, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.

Quality seeds out of farmers’ reach

• With the implementation of Model Code of Conduct, political parties and their candidates are making claims to strengthen the farming sector. However, governments have not been able to provide quality seeds to farmers till the date
• Farmers are of the view that instead of doubling the farmers’ income the government policies are creating economic crisis in the agrarian sector