Tuesday, 09 January 2024 | MANSI BHAMBRI | DEHRADUN
The farmers in the mountainous regions of the State have expressed their concern over difficulties in yielding pulses and grains. Some of them are requesting the introduction of polyhouses to make the cultivation easier. These demands were raised at the Yuva Mahotsav being organised by the Sports and Youth Welfare Department in Dehradun from January 5 to 9.
Talking to The Pioneer, a farmer who has set up stalls at the Yuva Mahotsav, Jagmohan Bisht said that he lives in Tehri where he owns land and cultivates pulses and grains. He stressed that wild animals like pigs and monkeys often destroy his crops, and the seed material provided by the government is of poor quality, leading to low yields. There is also a lack of government initiatives to improve farming practices in the region, he said. Bisht further added that the government should increase the number of polyhouses and provide better quality seeds to improve crop yields.
Farmer from Pauri, Rampal Singh Rawat said that farming in the mountainous region is challenging due to factors like wild animals, limited employment opportunities and poor maintenance of polyhouses. He opined that the government should work towards proper maintenance of polyhouses, create more employment opportunities and limit the migration of workers to ease the cultivation process in mountainous regions.
Seema Rawat who runs a woman self-help group in Dehradun said that she makes handicrafts to earn a living for herself. She said that providing stalls at the Mahotsav event would not be beneficial in the long run. She suggested that the government should provide a permanent platform for them to sell their products, empowering them and enabling them to earn a living.
