Wheat sowing delayed as farmers await seed: Jakhar
Monday, 21/10/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131021/punjab.htm#5
Chandigarh : Congress Legislative Party Leader Sunil Jakhar has accused the Punjab Government of being anti-farmer and of dilly-dallying the fixing of rates to be charged from them for subsidised wheat seed.
He said the action plan under the National Food Security Mission for providing subsidy worth Rs 46.76 crore on seed and implements was approved for Punjab on May 31 and Rs 24.63 crore was released on October 11. But the state government was yet to pass on the benefit to the farming community.
He said Punjab Agricultural University had advised the farmers to begin sowing of wheat latest by October 15, but the state government was yet to make arrangements for it since Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had so far not approved the rate to be charged for wheat seed.
Jakhar alleged it appeared that a nexus between influential seed dealers and Agriculture Department official might again lead to siphoning of subsidised seed as was the case two years ago.
He regretted that officers indicted in the Rs 40 crore seed subsidy scam continue to hold prime postings.
