Procurement of wheat, mustard put off in Haryana till mid-april
CM Khattar to urge Centre for facilitating staggered procurement; asks farmers to store harvested foodgrains in their homes till the procurement begins
CHANDIGARH: Hamstrung by the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, the Haryana government has put off procurement operations for two rabi crops — wheat and mustard — till mid-april.
Wheat and mustard procurement usually begins on April 1 every year. But since the lockdown period ends on April 14, the procurement had to be deferred.
The Punjab government has already asked the Centre to allow postponement of wheat procurement by 15 days. In a communication to the Union ministry of food, consumer affairs and food distribution, principal secretary (food and civil supplies) KAP Sinha has made a request in this regard on Tuesday.
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said mustard procurement will start from April 15 and the wheat procurement from April 20, contingent to the situation normalising by then. In his televised address to people of the state, he said: “Till the time procurement gets underway, farmers should store the harvested foodgrains in their homes. The Haryana State
Agriculture Marketing Board will also find solutions for storage of foodgrains during pre-procurement period.”
The state government will also push for staggered procurement to ease up congestion and glut in “mandis”, Khattar said, assuring the farmers that every single grain will be procured.
Officials said the CM will write to the Centre for facilitating staggered procurement. “Financial incentives could be offered to growers for staggered procurement that is done within 15-30 days. Since storage and handling cost of foodgrains will come down if procurement is done in a phased manner, the government can redirect the amount towards growers as incentive,’’ said an official.
MECHANISED HARVESTING, A PRIORITY
The agriculture and farmers welfare department on Thursday asked the district magistrates to ensure mechanised harvesting takes precedence over manual harvesting in view of coronavirus threat.
Additional chief secretary (ACS), agriculture, Sanjeev Kaushal said the maximum uses of agricultural machinery be made during harvesting and manual harvesting be restored to only as a last option. The operator of the harvesting machinery and tools of the manual harvesters should be sanitised at least three to five times a day. Also, the tools used by one person should not used by others.
Not more than five persons should be deployed for operating combine harvester machines and masks and gloves should be used, Kaushal said. The ACS has also asked the district magistrates to facilitate movement and supply of fertilisers to ensure statewide availability to farmers.
“A limited three-hour window from 10 in the morning for government sector shops and a need-based roster for private sector shops can be prescribed as per the farmers’ requirement,’’ he wrote.
HELPLINE SOUGHT
Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja wrote to Khattar on Thursday drawing his attention to the problems likely to be faced by farmers in the wake of delay in procurement of crops.
Selja said the state government should set up a round-theclock dedicated helpline for farmers where all their concerns should be clarified. Demanding waiver of crop loans, she also said that the credit limit of Kisan Credit Cards used by farmers should be increased.