Wheat arrival from UP remains challenge for authorities
KARNAL: Despite issuing repeated warnings, sealing state borders and cancelling licences of commission agents, the state authorities are still finding it difficult to keep tabs on the wheat coming to the Haryana mandis from Uttar Pradesh.
The officials at the grain markets have started asking for identity proofs and land ownership documents from the farmers, but the authorities are still finding it difficult to purchase the entire produce.
SURPLUS WHEAT AN ISSUE
Following the reports of bumper crop this year, the state government has already set the target of procuring around 80 lakh tonnes of wheat at the minimum support price (MSP) of ₹1,735 against the last year’s 74.25 lakh tonnes. But by April 28, the procurement has already reached 77.42 lakh MT, surpassing last year’s 74.25 lakh MT.
It may surpass the 85 lakh MT figure by the end of the season as officials in the state food and supplies department are predicting that wheat arrival is likely to continue for more than a week.
“The arrival of wheat in mandis this time is set to remain higher than the last year, but we have taken several steps to avoid trading of wheat from Uttar Pradesh,” says Kushal Pal Bura, an official.
COMMISSION AGENTS OBJECT BAN
The ban on purchasing wheat coming from Uttar Pradesh has irked the commission agents and they are objecting the move by staging protests in Karnal grain market.
They have been demanding the government to allow the farmers to sell their produce without forcing them to provide land-related documents.
There are no official figures available, but the officials in state food and supplies department say more that 5 lakh MT of wheat from Uttar Pradesh farmers ahs already been sold in the grain markets, thus forcing the government to increase its procurement limits.
WHY UP FARMERS SELLING THEIR PRODUCE IN HARYANA
Talking to Hindustan Times a farmer of UPS Shamli said, “The farmers are being forced to sell their produce in Haryana due to lack of proper mandis in the biggest agrarian state.”
Also, the commission agents in UP are unable to make their payment immediately, unlike Haryana.
“The farmers from UP are ready to sell their produce even below the MSP in Haryana, besides higher transportation charges,” he says, adding, “The trading of foodgrains from UP is a good source of income for the commission agents of Haryana as the UP farmers sell their produce (both wheat and paddy) even at ₹100-200 less than the MSP.
ACTION AGAINST TRADERS AND COMMISSION AGENTS
Following strict directions by the state government, the district authorities of Karnal, Panipat and Yamunanagar have imposed check posts at the Haryana-up borders . Two FIRS have also been registered against traders in Panipat district.
“We have set up check posts to check illegal trading of wheat by traders in mandis of Panipat district,” confirmed Panipat district food and supplies controller Anita Kharub.
COMMISSION AGENTS TO OPPOSE DIRECT PAYMENT
The commission agents in Haryana on Saturday held a meeting in Karnal.
They have decided not to get involved in the procurement of wheat in grain markets from Sunday.
This is been done to protest against the government’s proposed move of direct payment to farmers’ account to put a complete check on the purchase of wheat coming from other states.