Farmers hit hard by double farming crisis in Maharashtra

Farmers in Latur district of Maharashtra are hit hard due to the mismanagement of the Agricultural department. The farmers have suffered due to the double farming, while there is a demand for three lakh quintal of seeds for Kharif crops, only fifty per cent of seeds were made available by the agriculture department.

Latur:Monsoons have arrived on time this year and the sowing activity is being performed timely by the farmers.

Some farmers have already sown the seeds. However, the sown seeds have not yet germinated. Therefore, the poor and helpless farmers are hit by the crisis of double sowing in the district. This year, while everything is happening on time, the negligence of the agriculture department has taken a toll on the farmers.

The monsoon season began right on time just before the Kharif crops had to be sown.

This created a conducive environment for sowing within eight days of the season. However, since the beginning of the season, the policies of the agriculture department have hit the farmers hard. While there is a demand for three lakh quintal of seeds for Kharif crops, only fifty per cent of seeds were made available by the agriculture department. So farmers had to rely on homegrown seeds.

However, the Department of Agriculture, which provides guidelines on the use of home-grown seeds, which should be properly processed and sown only after germination, has supplied seeds to farmers that do not have germination capacity.

Hundreds of farmers in the district have complained about it. On the other hand, it has been recorded that seeds have not germinated on 110 hectares.

READ:Maharashtra: Over 100 quintal grains rots due to lack of godowns in Gadchiroli

Although the area is increasing, it is being overlooked by the Department of Agriculture. Farmers from all the talukas in the district have lodged complaints in this regard. Farmers are already in a financial crisis.

Farmers have to pay an average of Rs 10,000 per acre for sowing. For this, the farmers have taken loans. The question before the farmers is how to spend double sowing again.

An enquiry committee has been appointed at the district level to look into the matter. The germination capacity of these seeds has been observed for the last two days. Besides, a check is also being conducted.

This does not seem to be the case with all farmers. Therefore, the question remains as to how to do double sowing. Last year, all the Kharif crops were damaged in the final stages due to the vagaries of nature.

This year, the farmers have to bear the brunt of the management of the agriculture department from the very beginning.