Gilgit (Correspondent): Like many other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, the sowing season has started in the Nagar valley too. However, the farmers in Nagar valley are faced with an unprecedented problem of access to irrigation water due to damages made by floods last year.
Although the agriculture department G-B distributed wheat seeds to the farmers in the month of December the damaged water channels and canals from the river are still waiting their repair. As a result, the farmer are left with unavailability of water needed for irrigation at this crucial stage.
Another issue is the insufficient availability of wheat seeds. According to the farmers, seeds provided by the agriculture department are are not sufficient to meet demands of farmers. People used to store wheat seeds previously but this year they did not store them as 90% of the cultivation last year was related to potatoes. Thus there exists a state of uncertainty related to the required amount of seeds.
Given the above agricultural woes, the farmers of Nagar valley have been demanding the concerned authorities to repair and restore the canal system. Nevertheless, no practical steps have been taken by the authorities to date on these requests, said the farmers while speaking to Ibex Times.
It is pertinent to note that in three tehsils of district Nagar, the sowing season starts from February 10.
According to local people, the problems of wheat flour this year have mentally tortured them. As a result, the farmers have decided to reduce potato cultivation by 80% to cope with potential wheat crisis this year.
According to a circle of the intelligentsia, the federal government is depriving the people of G-B of wheat subsidy under various pretexts. According to them, the reduction in wheat subsidy is an act of depriving the people of Gilgit-Baltistan of its internationally acclaimed right to “subsidy”.
The political circles of G-B also believe the federal government should continue providing subsidy on all essential commodities until the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan is determined.
The minimum the G-B government could do is to repair the damaged water channels and ensure provision of wheat seeds in all areas of Gilgit-Baltistan including Goharbad valley in Punial and several villages in Nagar district on an urgent basis.
