Farmers demand proper information about crop diseases

Nahan, May 9 (UNI) Farmers of Poanta Sahib of Sirmour District in Himachal Pradesh today demanded the departments concerned to provide them adequate and timely information about the various crop diseases.

"Agriculture and Horticulture Research Centre was opened at Dhaula Kuan to provide latest information to farmers of Poanta and adjoining areas to reap better crops. However, the scientists had only confined their job within the camps and no field tour were conducted to introduce new technologies and trends were the real problems lies." "There is a urgent need to check soil in Renuka and Shillai to know the reason of prevailing ginger crop damages, which is only cash crop of areas," he said.

"Since 1980, when an onslought of disease was discovered in ginger crop no serious preventive measures had been taken. In the conducted camps scientists of various universities of country were asked to address the problem, but till now no soulution have been found," farmers said, adding that the continously heightened loses have forced the farmers to take another occupations to earn their livlihood.

They further said due to lack of marketing of Sugarcane, producers are not getting their due.

"Sugarcane producers are selling their produce to Doewala Sugar Mill in UP, but unfortunetly it is lifting the produce according to their requirement, and the left over produce remained unsold," they said.

The farmers urged the state horticulture minister to take strict steps to provide them adequate information and address their problems UNI XC PS MMS1757