As harvest nears, farmers want spare parts shops to be opened

April 03 2020

As wheat harvesting is about to begin, farmers are seeking immediate relaxation for mechanic and spare parts shops so that the machinery, including combine harvester, reaper and tractors could be repaired.

Sukhvinder Singh, a farmer from Sapera village, who also owns a combine harvester, said, “The harvesting season is about to begin and before starting the harvesting with the machine, it needs to be repaired. But spare parts are not available.

“Farmers have started calling me for bookings but the combine is not ready. We have the staff for the machine and they can get it repaired but there is no shop available from where we could get the spare parts.”

“For the past three days, I have talked to many dealers but they have been saying that there is no supply due to the lockdown. I have also sown wheat on 45 acres and there is already crop loss due to unwanted rainfall. Now, the machine is not getting repaired. Besides Ambala and Shahabad, I go to Punjab too with my combine for harvesting. Last year, the charge for one acre was Rs 1,200 per acre. For this year, the charges are yet to be finalised,” he added.

Rajiv Kumar, another farmer, said, “I need to get my tractor repaired but the mechanic shops are closed. The administration must allow the mechanics to run their shops so that the machines could be repaired.”

Malkiyat Singh, district chief of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni), said, “The farmers are worried as there is already a shortage of labourers. The machines are also not ready as the mechanic and spare parts shops are closed due to the lockdown. We have requested the administration to give relaxation to spare parts shops from the lockdown.”

Rajinder Sethi, junior engineer of engineering wing of the Agriculture Department, said, “There are nearly 350 combine harvesters in Ambala. The combines arrive from Punjab too and similarly, combine owners from Ambala go to Punjab. We are well aware of the situation and a proposal has already been forwarded to the district authorities seeking relaxation from the lockdown for custom hiring centres, mechanic shops, other shops related to farming equipment and their movement. We are hopeful that the orders will be issued within a day or two.”


This news has not been edited by Apni Kheti staff but has been published by various news feeds

Source: Tribune India