Farmers Movement Archive

Tarn Taran: Farmers gherao PAU officials

Tarn Taran, August 6Farmers gheraoed a three-member team of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) who had come to investigate a complaint regarding sale of mixed seed of PR-121 (paddy) at Palasaur village on Thursday.Daler Singh, who is a marginal farmer (2 acres), had taken 8 acres on a lease for Rs 60,000 per acre. He had purchased paddy seed from the Vegetable Research Centre, Usman, Tarn Taran, for 10 acres. After one and a half months of sowing paddy, Daler was stunned to see mixed plants on his fields.The team was headed by plant breeder Gaurav Khosla. Farmers led by Lakhwinder Singh Palasaur of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and Parminder Singh, former sarpanch of the village, gathered at the spot.The PAU team was of the view that the seed must be mixed erroneously which caused loss to the tune of 20 per cent. Farmers asked the team members to give it in writing, which the latter denied. As situation seemed to go out of hand, SHO Varinder Singh Khosa and tehsildar Ajay Kumar (Duty Magistrate), reached the spot.After consulting his seniors, Khosla gave the report that 20 per cent seed of wild rice led to 20 per cent crop loss on 10 acres of Daler.The Duty Magistrate said he countersigned the report of the three –member team of the PAU. Palasaur demanded a high-level probe into the matter and sought action against erring officials.

The Tribune

2021-08-07

Gurbaxpuri