Govt at the receiving end of farmers’ ire

MOGA/CHANDIGARH: Farmers in Punjab and Haryana are up in arms against the government over minimum support price of wheat. Unions like All India Kissan Coordianation Committee and Bharat Kissan union have come together to mobilise farmers in the towns of Khanna, Moga and Ferozepur against the “government pressure”.

The resentment follows reports that private companies like Cargil, ITC, Reliance, Adani may be kept out of wheat procurement this year Only this March 17, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had demanded the merger of the bonus Rs 100 per quintal on wheat announced by the Centre in addition to MSP of Rs 750 per quintal on wheat. He had requested the Centre to announce a MSP of Rs 900 per quintal.

As per sources, a leading company that had earlier booked 3 lakh bags of wheat had withdrawn with out further notice.Also keeping a tab on these two important markets (Punjab and Haryana) are futures trading companies Financial Markets International (FMI) and National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX).

Though the futures trading in wheat has been suspended, FMI and NCDEX have been educating farmers in places like Moga and Sirsa—the hinterlands of Punjab & Haryana—about futures trading.

Addressing the farmers here in Moga, Mr Sharad Joshi, Member of Parliament, said, “I do not mind future trading provided it benefits the farmers. After all, Punjab provides wheat to the whole of India. In Maharstra as well we will not let the Cotton corporation of India to procure cotton in the coming season.’ Its also felt that not all farmers will be able to hoard wheat for long as the hoarding costs multiply with every passing month.