Ganderbal, Sep 19: Farmers in Tullamulla are facing difficulties in accessing seeds and other essential agricultural inputs, as the local Agriculture Department store has reportedly remained locked for nearly one-and-a-half to two years despite an existing government facility in the area.
The prolonged closure has caused concern among the farming community, particularly during sowing seasons when timely availability of quality seeds and other agricultural inputs is crucial. Farmers said they are currently required to approach the Sub-District Agriculture Office at Ganderbal for basic requirements.
The farmers said that whenever they receive information about the availability of seeds, they have to travel to Ganderbal to collect the required quantity. However, they alleged that by the time they reach the office, the available stock is often distributed among farmers from other areas.
They said the situation sometimes forces them to return without seeds after spending money and valuable working hours on transportation. The issue becomes more difficult during peak sowing periods, when delays in obtaining seeds can affect agricultural activities.
The farmers have questioned why the existing Agriculture Department facility at Tullamulla has remained non-functional for such a long period, saying the government building was established to facilitate agricultural services for the local farming community.
They have appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also represents the Ganderbal Assembly constituency, Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar and Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal to take cognisance of the issue and ensure early restoration of the facility.
The existing Agriculture Department building and store at Tullamulla be reopened and made fully functional so that seeds and other essential agricultural inputs can be distributed locally, the farmers demanded.
The farming community has also sought the establishment of an Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO) office at Tullamulla, stating that the area’s large farming population and agricultural requirements warrant a dedicated mechanism for providing technical guidance and departmental services.
President Civil Society Tullamulla, Aijaz Ahmad, expressed concern over the issue and said farmers should not be required to repeatedly travel to the district headquarters for basic agricultural requirements when a government facility is already available in the area.
“Tullamulla has a large farming community and is also a tehsil and one of the most populous villages in Ganderbal district. Farmers here require timely access to seeds, technical guidance and other agricultural services, particularly during sowing seasons. Keeping an Agriculture Department store locked for such a prolonged period defeats the purpose for which the facility was established. The administration should examine the matter on priority and make the centre functional without further delay,” he said.
Ahmad urged the Agriculture Department and district administration to consider establishing a dedicated AEO office at Tullamulla so that farmers can access agricultural guidance and departmental services closer to their homes.
The farmers said they were not seeking any special treatment but only timely and equitable access to government agricultural services. They said reopening the local store would reduce transportation expenses, save time and minimise repeated trips to Ganderbal.
They have urged the concerned authorities to conduct an on-ground assessment of the facility, ascertain the reasons for its prolonged closure and take necessary administrative measures to restore its functioning—(KNO)
