Cotton farmers protest for compensation

As Punjab suffered due to whitefly attack on the cotton crops, farmers are demanding compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for every cotton farmer who has faced the damage. Therefore, farmers are protesting under eight farmer unions of Punjab.

The eight farmer union includes BKU Dkaunda, BKU Ugraha Union, Punjab Kisan Union, BKU Krantikari, BKU Kirti Kisan Union, Jamhuri Kisan Sabha and two different Sangarsh Committees.

The farmers marched from their protest venue to the Agriculture Department in Bathinda with their slogans against the state government.

Farmers are further demanding for compensation of Rs 20,000 to all those labourer families who had got unemployed due to cotton crop damage this time. They also demanded strict action against pesticides companies and dealers for selling bogus pesticides.

Shingara Singh Mann, President of the Bhartya Kisan Union Ekta-Ugrahan Bathinda, stated that around 9.5 lakh acres of cotton crop were damaged due to pest attack and the protest will continue until the farmers get compensated for the loss.

“We are spreading to the villages to create awareness among the farmers by encouraging them to stand for their rights and participate in the protest”, he added.