Jammu: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan, Thursday conducted a day long visit of various areas of Jammu and Samba districts for on ground assessment of crop losses due to recent incessant rains and hail storm.
Advisor visited Jourian, Marh, R S Pura, Bishnah, Ramgarh and adjoining areas and evaluated the crop losses, especially Basmati rice, occurred in these areas due to recent heavy rains and hailstorm.
At Jourian, Advisor interacted with farmers who apprised him about the quantum of damages occurred to their paddy crop by incessant rains, hail storm and water stagnation. He was informed that both standing as well as harvested paddy has suffered adversely due to inclement weather.
Advisor visited various villages including Devipur, Jourian, Ghari Nanda, Tartoti, kanachak, Galwaday Chak, Marh, Flora, Sangrampur, Dableher, Balachak, Rathana, Salehar, Pasgal, Jagtuchak, Pandorian, Gandli, Khour Salarian, Chak Shatakaa and Chak balotra of Tehsil Jourian, Akhnoor, Marh, RS Pura and Bishnah of Jammu district and Tehsil Ramgarh of Samba district respectively.
DDC Chairman and its members besides PRI representatives of concerned areas informed about the immense losses caused to their crops including paddy, maize, vegetables, pulses, potato, fodder and oil seeds with request for timely compensation for the same. Besides, the farmers demanded seeds, fertilizers and other inputs in view of anticipated losses to Rabi crops due to excessive moisture in soil leading to delayed sowing for damaged produce.
Farooq Khan appealed the farmers to go for crop insurance in future to safe guard their crops against such natural calamities. He also instructed the concerned officials to launch awareness campaigns to sensitize the farmers regarding benefits of PM Fasal Bima Yojana for 100% coverage under the crop insurance.
Advisor asked the officers to assess realistic impact of inclement weather conditions on agriculture sector and extend technical hand to farmers in order to tackle the situation emerged out from the prevailing scenario by devising a strategy for upcoming Rabi season to compensate crop losses to some extent.
Advisor issued directions to the field functionaries of Agriculture Department to conduct joint survey along with revenue officials by organizing meetings with the farmers of all villages to get and prepare detailed digitalized report of crop damages at the earliest. He enjoined upon the insurance companies to immediately settle the claims of crops under PM Fasal Bima Yojna.
Regarding Paddy straw problem, Advisor recommended popularization of use of decomposer to dispose of logged paddy straw. He said that government is working on provision of subsidy on seed and fertilizers for next crop to facilitate the farmers.
Director Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Jammu, K K Sharma, ADDC Jammu, Romesh Chander, ADDC Samba, TR Shastri, Joint Director Agriculture Marketing, A S Reen, CAO Jammu, Arvind Baru and other officers of Agriculture and Revenue Department accompanied the Advisor during the tour.
