SRINAGAR, SEPT 27: As if a prolonged fight with the enemy along the border, which resulted in a large exodus of people to the Kashmir valley wasn't enough, Jammu and Kashmir is now facing a severe drought. The condition could worsen, warn authorities if action is not taken immediately.One of the main reasons is a continuous dry spell this year which has resulted in a poor harvesting season. Severe drought due to low snowfall for two successive years followed by scanty rainfall in the kharif season this year has adversely affected foodgrain production in Jammu and Kashmir, State's Financial Commissioner (Agriculture Production and Rural Development), I S Malhi said.``Depletion in foodgrain production ranged between two lakh tonnes to five lakh tonnes. Out of 1,55,648 hectares under paddy cultivation, farming could be carried out on only 1,20,000 hectares,'' he said.Damage caused to maize and pulses ranged between 50 and 70 per cent, he said, adding, ``out of 47,400 hectares under pulse cultivation,15,200 hectares were affected in Kashmir and in Doda district of Jammu.''Unless remedial measures are taken immediately, the problem could aggravate, said a State Agriculture Department official.Faced with crop losses, the farmers are a distressed lot and allege relief measures were inadequate. They also seem to be disillusioned with the political system.``We are concerned about our paddy which stands affected due to drought and not about the Lok Sabha election or its outcome,'' said 50-year-old Nisar Ahmed Sheikh of Khandur village in Pulwama district.Haji Akram Bhat, a farmer of Pulwama, demanded subsidy for purchasing seeds and fertiliser for rabi crops.The drought has hit most rural areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Anantnag and Pulwama districts. According to Agriculture Department officials, nearly 70 per cent of kharif crops have been damaged in Kupwara, Baramulla and Badgam. About 38,000 hectares of agricultural land was affected in Baramulla and nearly 36,700 hectares in Kupwara, they said,adding steps should be taken to save remaining standing crops by procuring water pumps and providing water through irrigation canal.The State Government has sought from the centre a special relief package of Rs 259.64 crore from the National Calamity Relief Fund for providing relief to the people in drought-affected areas.A seven-member team, headed by Joint Secretary, Union Agriculture Ministry S K Ojha, was on a four-day visit to Kashmir to assess the damage caused to kharif crops. ``All possible measures would be taken by the centre to meet requirements of drought-affected people,'' Ojha said.However, scepticism is writ large on the faces of the farmers. ``What we need is immediate remedial measures and relief to save us from starvation and not political speeches from the leaders,'' said drought-hit farmer Abdul Gani Ganai.
