Chandigarh, May 20 (HS): After the resumption of vehicle movement between India and Afghanistan via Pakistan, the BSF allowed farmers in border districts to cultivate their fields across the border. On Tuesday, farmers crossed the fencing under BSF supervision to harvest wheat and collect straw. In Punjab’s Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot districts, 2,500 to 3,500 acres of land are within the fencing area. Farmers managed their crops in areas deemed normal by the BSF. This initiative aims to support farmers in exercising their legitimate rights to cultivate land.

Enhanced security measures have been established to ensure their safety during agricultural work, overseen by a dedicated BSF Farmer Force. Previously, due to India-Pakistan tensions, farmers were only permitted two days to collect their crops, with many unable to gather their wheat or straw. Now, as conditions improve, they can retrieve their harvest and prepare for upcoming crops, including planting paddy, which began on May 15.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar