Extensive landmining of Punjab's rural areas close to the Indo-Pak border in the wake of mobilisation has been taking its toll on the state's rural economy, the annual cattle fair at Vallha village being the latest to bear the brunt of tension at the border.

The Vallha cattle fair is the one of the largest annual cattlestock shows in north India that marks the 'Baisakhi' festival in the state.
But the fair presents a dismal scenario this year. Traders from Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and UP, who have come to participate in the fair that opened on April 8 and will continue till April 17, are faced with the only prospect of distress in livestock sales.
Ravel Singh Sarpanch from Haryana's Sirsa district, who came to the fair in the hope of brisk business, discovered that he could sell not even a quarter of his stock.
"The thin participation in the mela has shocked me. Out of 60 animals, I have succeeded in selling merely 10 animals as against the sale of 40 last year," the sarpanch said. And he is not the only one to be disappointed at the fair. Bhairav Partap Singh from Rajashtan, who has brought a large number of camels to the fair, has had no transaction at all. "People merely accosted and passed by after a little enquiry about the camels," he said.
Ram Kishore from Gurdaspur has brought 15 horses, not able to sell even one in the first two days at the fair.
All the traders attribute the dismal trade to border tension. "Mining of fields has caused great losses to the farmers. They have lost their purchasing power as they could not reap and dispose of their crops".
A good buffalo costs anything between Rs 20,000 and 40,000, a good horse costs between Rs 30,000 and Rs 65,000, a mule between Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000 and an ox Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, but in the absence of any buyer these rates have lost their significance.
"Border area farmers of Punjab, who are known for their purchasing power, are now worried about their bread and butter," remarked Lachman Singh hailing from Khemkaran.
"To buy an animal on the eve of Baisakhi is considered a good omen. But this time heavy crop losses with no compensation from the Government's end has pushed the farmers to the wall," he said.
Buyers from Jammu and Gujarat who have always been a big force in the market were conspicuous by their absence due to the disturbed situation at the border.
Many traders who used to buy animals in bulk are wary and scared. "If we fail to sell the animals, our investment would sink," said Ram Singh from Sur Singh village.
If this trend continues, traders fear that they would be forced to sell off their animals at throwaway prices. Sukh Ram, a Haryana trader who has spent over Rs 30,000 for transporting livestock to the fair is left with the only option of underselling. "Otherwise I will have to bear another Rs 32,000 for taking back the animals," he adds.
Fair officer Mohinder Singh said, keeping in view the condition of the farmers, the district administration has decided to provide free electricity and water facilities.
Transporters taking advantage of the situation had hiked transportion charges, but timely intervention by the district authorities checked this undue hike, he added.
Giving details of the fair, Singh, who is also the district development and panchayat officer, informed that in 2001 the fair was not held due to foot-and-mouth disease in cattleheads. In the year 2000, the total revenue collection was Rs 6.48 lakh.
"The revenue collection this year will be far less than that," he said.
Bureau Report