Gap in arrival, purchase and lifting weighs heavy in Malwa
Region’s southern districts Bathinda and Mansa witness farmer protests over slow purchase of produce in last 3 days
BATHINDA/LUDHIANA/PATIALA/ SANGRUR: Kulwant Singh of Kishangarh village in Mansa district has been camping at the Bareta grain market for eight days to sell his wheat. He has 12-acres of land and harvested only a part of the total area.
“Officials and arhtiyas say there are no gunny bags. In absence of packaging material, procurement has slowed down work and farmers are hassled,” said Singh. As per official records, only 4,895 metric tonnes (MT) wheat was purchased by different agencies in Bareta mandi on Monday and only 400 MT food grain was lifted.
President of arhtiyas’ association at Bareta Jitender Mohan Garg blames the state authorities for poor preparedness for the procurement. “Contrary to the government’s claims, purchase is disappointingly slow as there has hardly been any availability of gunny bags. There is no space left in the mandi,” he said.
In south Malwa, Bathinda and Mansa districts have more problems related to procurement. In the last three days, farmer protests have been reported at various places of the two districts against the slow purchase.
Of 3.68 lakh MT wheat arrived in Bathinda so far, 74,000 MT is still lying unsold . Officials admit the tardy lifting of the wheat is now threatening to create a glutlike situation in the coming days as heavy more crop has been harvested that will flood the grain markets. 95% wheat arrives, 50% purchased in Patiala
With 95 per cent of targeted wheat produce already there in mandis, shortage of bardana (gunny bags) has badly affected the procurement of the grain in Patiala district. Officials say over 50% of the arrived produce is yet to be purchased. Also, of the crop procured till Monday evening, payments have been cleared for only 15 per cent.
Farmers are protesting against the delay in purchase and payments for the last three days the long at different locations. On Monday, farmers blocked Patiala-cheeka road for 3 hours, while on Sunday they blocked Patiala-sirhind road.
Procurement grainy in Ludhiana grain markets The paucity of gunny bags, labour issues and sudden glut of wheat crop triggered by the fear of another lockdown have added to the woes of farmers as well as government officials looking after the procurement process.
Farmers camping at the Jagraon grain market also faced similar issues. Jashandeep Singh, secretary of Jagraon market committee, said the orders for using old gunny bags have arrived and agencies and arhtiyas are counting available stock.
Sangrur farmers upset over delay in payments Farmers in Sangrur blamed the government for shortage of gunny bags, slow lifting and delayed payments in mandis. The administration said arrangements are proper and 7.15 lakh MT wheat has arrived in the district against 10 lakh MT of last season. Labourers also say their work has affected due to shortage of gunny bags.
(Inputs by Vishal Joshi, Vishal Rambani, Mohit Khanna
and Avtar Singh)