Now, Agriculture Department comes out in support of farmers

Jalandhar: While the ongoing protest by farmers at Delhi borders is likely to see more footfall in the coming days with panchayats in the state urging villagers to participate in the protest, the agricultural officials on Monday raised concern over the maintenance and development of rabi crops. Extending support to the agitating farmers, the staff and officers of District Agriculture Department, employees of Horticulture, Land and Water Defense Department and Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee staged a silent protest on Monday. They said they were saddened by the way farmers were being treated. The absence of farmers from fields could affect the production of seasonal crop along with wheat. Leading the protest, Dr Surinder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, said farmers in Delhi have been staging peaceful protests against the agricultural laws for the last 19 days and it could possibly affect the growth of the crops sown. “The Department of Agriculture completely supports the demands of farmers and stands in solidarity with farmers in this difficult hour. For the overall prosperity of farmers in the agriculture sector, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) structure of crops should continue. Instead, there is a need to further strengthen the government procurement system,” said Singh, while stressing on withdrawal of agri laws. Naresh Kumar Gulati, agriculture officer, said this was the time, when field visits were made in villages to guide farmers regarding better production of crops. The wheat plants need special care and attention and when farmers would remain unavailable in fields, it would directly affect their growth. As only labourers and inexperienced workers are in fields these days, the excess or no sprinkling of fertilisers could destroy the crops. TNS