Wheat procurement begins, but harvesting yet to pick up
KARNAL:: Though government agencies started procurement of wheat in Haryana on Saturday, the crop has hardly started arriving in mandis of the state.
Commission agents say harvesting of wheat was delayed by almost a week this year due to weather conditions. The harvesting is expected to pick up next week.
Also, many farmers who have harvested the crop are not bringing it to the mandis as government agencies have made it clear that they will not procure wheat with high moisture content.
“Government agencies have started procurement but there is no wheat in the mandis as harvesting will pick up next week,” said Naresh Kumar, a commission agent at Ladwa grain market of Kurukshetra district.
Due to favourable weather conditions this season, officials of the state agriculture department are expecting that wheat production might reach 120 lakh tonne this year, against 114 lakh tonne last year.
Official sources said government agencies have made arrangements to procure the entire produce of farmers. This year, around 65 lakh tonne wheat is likely to arrive in the mandis of the state.
FARMERS UNHAPPY WITH MSP
Even as they expect a bumper crop this year, farmers are not happy with the ₹100-hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat. KARNAL: After pressure from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Haryana government has directed district administrations to issue strict warnings to farmers regarding stubble burning.
Ahead of the wheat harvesting season, senior officers held meetings and constituted committees to keep an eye on the situation.
In Karnal, additional deputy commissioner Priyanka Soni directed the agriculture development officers, patwaris and panchayat secretaries to monitor the situation.
These officers will provide daily reports to higher authorities so that action can be taken against erring farmers.
The district administration has also put out a WhatsApp number (8295104099) on which people will be able to send in complaints against any erring farmers.