Farmers of seven panchayats are upset due to the closure of the agricultural sales center in Koti

Farmers in the area have expressed their displeasure with the government over the closure of the agricultural sales center in Koti, adjacent to Junga, which had been operating for nearly three decades. Several farmers, including Koti Panchayat head Ramesh Sharma, stated that the closure of the agricultural sales center would force farmers from seven panchayats in the area to travel to Mashobra to purchase seeds and other agricultural equipment. They added that in addition to Koti Panchayat, farmers from Darbhog, Satlai, Piran, Balogh, Janedghat, and Bharandi Panchayats would be affected by the center’s closure, and these farmers would have to travel to Mashobra to purchase seeds and other agricultural equipment. Reaching the center would require farmers to change three buses and travel more than 120 kilometers, resulting in a loss of time and money.
Ramesh Sharma stated that the position of Agricultural Extension Officer at the Koti Agricultural Sales Center has been vacant for several years. Employees from the Mashobra Block Headquarters occasionally visit the center to provide seeds and other supplies to farmers. He stated that one position of Agricultural Extension Officer has been filled at the Mashobra Block Headquarters, while the remaining seven agricultural sales centers in the field remain locked due to a lack of staff.
Progressive farmers Dayaram Verma, Pritam Singh Thakur, Daulat Ram Mehta, and several others stated that for several years, the Agriculture Department has not held any awareness camps in this area to provide farmers with the latest agricultural information. The government’s claims of promoting the agricultural sector are proving hollow. Without any support from the department, farmers are farming and producing cash crops on their own.
Deputy Director of Agriculture, Shimla, Ajab Negi said that this centre will be made functional again after filling the post of Agriculture Extension Officer.