Lohian farmers slam ordinances, Electricity Amendment Bill 2020

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 6

The farmers in the Lohian block on Monday staged a huge protest at the Dana Mandi against the three ordinances and the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill by the Modi government. Terming these as steps that will land a heavy blow on farming as an occupation in the country, hundreds of farmers from Jalandhar, Kapurthala congregated to mark their demands at the Lohian Khas here.

Much like the recent political outings witnessed in the city, the farmers’ meet was also sans social distancing. Farmers sported masks but sat close to each other as they demanded from the Centre that the gradual privatisation of agrarian sector be stopped. Sloganeering against the Akali-BJP, the farmers, both men and women, farm labourers and activists condemned the move towards privatisation.

Satnam Singh Pannu, state president of the union, Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary and district president Salwinder Singh Jania, demanded the dismissal of the three ordinances by the Centre and against the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill 2020. They declared that farmers will flock to the residence of MP Sanotkh Chaudhary on July 21.

They said under the garb of ‘one market one nation’ the government planned to implement the three ordinances — the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (promotion and facilitation), the Farmers Empowerment and Protection Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services, and the Essential Commodities Amendment — to burden farmers under hefty power bills under the electricity amendment bill.

They termed the ordinances as a plot to destroy farming, to usurp state powers and to tear down 1,873 dana mandis.

Farmers get tips on maize cultivation

Jalandhar: The Agriculture Department has been putting in efforts to make sure that the farmers switch to the cultivation of maize. The department started the mobile van to make farmers aware of maize cultivation. The van would visit every area of the district and would distribute hybrid seeds of the maize. Last year, maize was sown on 1,60,000 hectares in Punjab. This time, the target has been doubled to more than 3 lakh hectares. “We have been encouraging farmers to go for crop diversification. We have all the preparations in place and have seeds for the farmers,” said Director Agriculture Sutantar Kumar Aeri. The officials today said the farmers were trying to cultivate maize. tns