Damage Basmati crop: DDC Kathua assures help to farmers

KATHUA, NOVEMBER 19:- The district administration Kathua has assured every help to the Basmati growers of Marheen block for the damage to this year’s crop by unseasonal rains.
During a visit to the affected areas, the DDC, O P Bhagat was informed that over 4000 Hectare area spread over five Panchayats of Marheen block- was worst affected due to unseasonal rains causing huge loss to paddy growing farmers.
Pertinently, Marheen area of Hiranagar Sub Division is famous for its Basmati, a type of long-grained rice, which is also the cash crop as well as the staple diet of the locals.
Farmers of the area told the DDC that water table of their area is quite high and unseasonal rains caused water logging in their farms, with high wind speeds the matured crop submerged in water causing absolute loss.
The DDC directed the Chief Agriculture Officer to prepare a list of farmers who were affected due to unseasonal rains so that their demand for compensation can be flagged at appropriate forum.
The experts of Agriculture Department also advised the affected farmers to adopt zero ploughing in their rain hit farms and sow Barseen instead of sowing traditional crop for Rabi season 2019-20.
Later, the DDC also inspected the work on Highway Village near Logate Morh along the NH and directed the executing agency to expedite the work for timely completion of the project.
Earlier, the District Development Commissioner reviewed the implementation of Border Area Development Programme in three border blocks of Kathua.
He also reviewed the Model Villages and Tribal Plan works under BADP being executed by various Departments.
The DDC instructed all the officers and other field staff to strictly adhere to the quality parameters and timely execution of projects.
It was also apprised to the DDC in the meeting that funds re-validated for BADP works during 2019-20 is Rs. 5 Crore and 67 Lakhs whereas, Rs. 2 Crore and 28 Lakhs have been approved for fresh plans.
ADC Kathua, Ghanshyam Singh, CPO, Uttam Singh, CAO, Arun Gupta, DAEO, Sanjeev Rai, SDAO, Manohar Lal, DFOs, BDO, Engineers and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.