Nestled amidst the alpine dense forests at a lofty altitude of 8,400 feet in Rafiabad, Baramulla district, the Bosian Potato Seed Farm in north Kashmir is a tale of impressive agricultural achievement marred by the grim realities faced by its labourers. Established in 1972, this government-run venture has transformed into a powerhouse of potato seed production in Kashmir over recent years. Yet, despite these triumphs in output, the farm workers are burdened by meagre wages and challenging living conditions, painting a stark contrast between prosperity and hardship.
For over three decades, Syed Mohammad Amin, a daily wage labourer, has cultivated potatoes on this farm, witnessing its production scales soar to new heights. From a modest yield of 1,600 quintals in 2015, the farm reached an incredible 2,305 quintals in 2023. “When I started, we lacked resources, but things have only become harder. The production keeps increasing, but we work in the same poor conditions,” Amin said, his voice echoing with the fatigue of sustained neglect.
The Bosian Potato Seed Farm, sprawling over 45.5 hectares, is a hub for potato seed production, cultivating a variety of seeds across 18.71 hectares. Potatoes like Chipsona and Jyoti are nurtured with great care, grown with the help of automatic potato planters and treated with medicines to ward off diseases. Despite these advancements in agricultural technology and methodologies, the farm’s infrastructure lags. Road connectivity remains poor, with workers trekking long distances to reach the site, especially during harsh weather conditions when roads become impassable.
The labourers, numbering around 29, face multifaceted challenges. From sowing to sorting and packing, the work is highly labour-intensive. Sadly, since the cessation of outsourced labour in 2014, these workers must juggle farm duties with personal responsibilities, often living away from their families in inadequate temporary accommodations. The shelters, lacking basic facilities like electricity and clean drinking water, underscore the everyday struggle. “At night, it’s complete darkness. We fetch unsafe water from nearby streams, which affects our health,” explained Abdul Rahman, a casual labourer with more than 20 years on the farm.
These workers are essential cogs in the machinery of this record-breaking farm. Yet, the financial remuneration is appallingly low. Daily wage labourers earn a mere Rs. 311, with skilled workers, such as machine operators, receiving Rs. 411. Such wages fall grossly short of meeting the basic needs of their families, especially when compared to labourers in other regions who earn Rs. 600–700 daily. This disparity fuels frustration among the workforce who demand an increase to Rs. 700–800 per day to sustain a reasonable living. “We are working in far tougher conditions but are paid so little,” Rahman highlighted with an undertone of despair.
Despite the adversity, Bosian Potato Seed Farm continues its upward trajectory, reaching new production benchmarks annually. The seeds harvested are transported from the base camp at Wohlutra to the agriculture department stores, eventually finding their place across various districts in the valley. This farm, while an essential facet of the agrarian backbone of Kashmir, is emblematic of a broader issue—the dissonance between agricultural success and worker welfare.
As the story of Bosian unfolds, it reveals an uncomfortable truth about the agriculture sector in parts of the world: productivity and worker prosperity do not always go hand in hand. The farm’s vital role in securing potato seed production in the valley is undeniable, yet its workers remain in an unyielding struggle for fair compensation and better living standards.
While the Bosian Potato Seed Farm shines as a beacon of agricultural production, it casts a shadow on the lives of those who toil under the weight of poor recompense and meagre living conditions. Bridging this gap is crucial—not only for enhancing the well-being of the workers but for creating a sustainable model of development that truly celebrates human effort alongside technological and agricultural progress.
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