Demands strict action against black-marketing to safeguard farming community
KATHUA, Jun 1: Raising serious concerns over the hardships being faced by the farming community, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Kissan Congress submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, demanding immediate intervention to ensure the availability of essential agricultural inputs and provide relief to farmers ahead of the ongoing cultivation season.
The memorandum was led by JKPCC Kissan Congress Chairman Bharat Priye and was supported by a delegation comprising District President JKPCC Kissan Congress Kathua Tassaduq Hussain, State General Secretary Seva Ram, PCC Secretary Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Krishan Lal Dhegat, Sagar Ram, Darshana Kumari, Rakesh Kumar, Bhagat Singh, Ram Krishan Mahajan, Tarun Kumar, Naseeb Ahmed, Gurshankar Singh, Bilal Javed Beg and Vishu Andotra, among others.
In the memorandum, the Kissan Congress stressed that the current agricultural season is crucial for farmers and any disruption in the supply of fertilizers or quality seeds could adversely affect crop productivity and farm incomes. The organisation urged the district administration to ensure adequate stocks of fertilizers at all authorised outlets and facilitate the timely availability of certified, high-yielding seed varieties through a transparent and well-monitored distribution mechanism.
Addressing media persons after submitting the memorandum, Bharat Priye said that agriculture remains the backbone of the rural economy and thousands of families in Kathua depend directly on farming for their livelihood. He observed that farmers are already grappling with rising cultivation costs and cannot afford additional burdens arising from shortages of essential farm inputs.
The memorandum also drew attention to the sharp increase in diesel prices, stating that small and marginal farmers who rely heavily on diesel-operated agricultural machinery, irrigation pumps and transport facilities are among the worst affected. The Kissan Congress urged the administration to take up the matter with the concerned authorities for providing diesel at subsidised rates to farmers, thereby reducing their financial burden and ensuring uninterrupted agricultural operations.
Expressing concern over alleged instances of black-marketing, hoarding and overpricing of fertilizers, seeds and diesel, the organisation demanded strict monitoring and surprise inspections across the district. It called for the establishment of an effective mechanism to curb profiteering by unscrupulous elements and protect farmers from exploitation during the peak agricultural season.
The Kissan Congress leaders emphasized that timely action on these issues would not only help farmers increase agricultural productivity but also strengthen food security and rural economic stability. They maintained that ensuring easy access to affordable farm inputs is essential for improving crop yields and enhancing the income of farming households.
The delegation expressed hope that the district administration would take immediate and necessary steps in the larger interest of the farming community. They stated that responsive governance and farmer-friendly policies are vital for addressing the challenges faced by cultivators and for promoting sustainable agricultural growth in the region.
Several representatives and members of JKPCC Kissan Congress accompanied Chairman Bharat Priye during the submission of the memorandum, extending their support to the demands aimed at securing the welfare and economic well-being of farmers in Kathua district.