Reverse trend: Haryana farmers selling wheat in Patiala mandis

PATIALA:Unlike the usual trend of Patiala farmers travelling to Haryana to sell their wheat crop, farmers from the neighbouring state are reaching Patiala this procurement season . Reason: Grain markets in Patiala, the home district of Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, are witnessing procurement within hours of arrival.

A record two lakh tonnes of wheat has reached 105 grain markets in Patiala within two days, and the district administration has purchased it all. It’s almost 25% of the total 8 lakh tonnes of the wheat to be purchased from the district this season.

Last year, farmers had to resort to distressed sale in Patiala, as the Akali government was embroiled in the cash credit limit issue. Many farmers had chosen to sell their crop in Haryana. This time, however, the CM has passed special instructions to purchase the crop with 24 hours.

“It’s glut, but still with the active support of the purchasing agencies we have managed to procure almost two lakh tonnes of wheat in the past two days,” said Harinder Singh, a commission agent at the Patiala grain market.

“I have never seen such rapid purchase process. Last time we were not able to even purchase 30,000 tonnes in a day. This time even Haryana farmers are coming to Samana and Patran grain

markets to sell their crop,” he said.

Balwinder Sharma, a farmer from Sham Nagar in Haryana, said: “Earlier, I used to sell my crop in Kaithal, but this time I have come to Samana because of the speedy payment.”

“Its being hectic, but we have successfully purchased all wheat that arrived in the market. We are even lifting the purchased wheat

round the clock,” said Patiala deputy commissioner Kumar Amit.

With this pace, the Patiala administration is expecting to complete the purchase by the end of this week. The DC said ₹300-crore payment has already been released, and nearly ₹100 crore will be released in two days to ensure payment to farmers within 48 hours of purchase.