The Himachal Pradesh Communist Party of India (Marxist) has drawn the attention of the state government on farmer distress in state and demanded for farmer friendly policies.
In a written communique to the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday, CPIM lone Member of legislative Assembly (MLA) Rakesh Singha said that the farmers economy in the state is under serious distress.
He blamed the policies of the successive governments and terms of the
trade.
“In Himachal also the growth rate from agriculture, Horticulture and animal husbandry in relation to the state gross domestic product is on the decline. It has fallen to a frightening figure of minus 5.3 for the financial year 2018- 2019 as revealed by the economic survey,” he said, adding that this decline needs to be checked by framing farmer friendly policies and also the pro farmers mindset of the government and it’s delivering agencies.
The farmer friendly policies in the state of Himachal was lacking, he alleged.
Apple economy plays an important role in the states Horticulture economy.
The apple production for this season will be determined by several factors, one of them being of post buds well orchard practices by the farmers.
As there has been a long dry spell followed by rain showers in the last two days there is an eminent danger of drought and insects destroying the flower bud which will reduce the fruit setting percentage, he said, adding that this will reduce the apple production.
Singha said that the destruction of flowers can only be controlled by spraying appropriate insecticides, however, there is no insecticides, pesticides, fungicides available with the horticulture extension offices in different parts of the apple growing areas.
“This is a very serious issue and the government must act expeditiously, so that the small and marginal farmers who do not have the purchasing power to buy horticulture products from the open market are not made to suffer for the gross negligence of the policy makers of the state government,” he said.