With the Home Ministry issuing guidelines for lockdown 2.0 allowing certain sectors like Agriculture, Horticulture and Industries etc to function from 20 April in order to ease public living in the wake of covid-19 crisis, the people across the Union Territory of J&K expresssed their gratitude to the Government for resuming such activities.
The vegetable farming in border village of Mangnar, in Poonch District of J&K have started preparing their fields for growing vegetables this year after the announcement of the Prime Minister and guidelines by the Home Ministry. The vegetable farming is their only mode of earning throughout the year and they are engaged in this farming activity from decades. Sunil Kumar while expressing his gratitude for this decision, said that vegetable farming is our only mode of earning and this order has come at a right time when the climate is suitable for it. The Prime Minister’s formula ‘Jaan Bhi Jahan Bhi’ amid this lockdown is much appreciated by everyone especially the Agrarian community, he added.
Another vegetable farmer of the same village said that the incurred losses due to Covid-19 crisis to the Agriculture Sector can be now be lessened by this bold decision of the Government but the preventive measures like social distancing etc to be taken is farmer’s responsibility to end its spread.
The horticulture sector in J&K especially the Apple Industry of Kashmir has also welcomed this decision and also expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister.
Mohamad Abbas, an apple grower of village Mattan, Anantnag said that the Apple Industry of Kashmir could have ruined if this decision has not been taken as the Apple crop needs a timely spray of fungicides, which if not sprayed could lead to the diseases like scab, cork spot, powdery mildew etc. destroying its economical value.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a paddy farmer of Qazigund Anantnag also appreciated the decision said that this is the season when we prepare seedlings for our paddy crop without which the paddy can’t be grown which is our only means of livelihood.