Heaps of wheat lying in mandis, farmers selling below MSP

CHANDIGARH: Piles of wheat grains are lying in various grains markets of Punjab in the absence of state-owned procurement agencies despite tall claims of state government of smooth and hassle free purchase, the farmers union alleged today.

Already bearing the brunt of freak weather, farmers are also being forced to sell their crop below MSP rate of Rs 1,450 a quintal at a few places in the state, adding to the woes of growers who have been "endlessly" waiting for want of buyers in mandis, it said.

Despite heavy arrivals of wheat, several mandis in Sangrur, Patiala, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ludhiana, among other grain markets, have been witnessing "tardy" purchase of crop, compelling growers to protest against the apathetic attitude of state machinery engaged in crop purchase for central pool.

"Farmers are being forced to wait for several days in mandis as procurement agencies are not buying crop at one pretext or the other. And a result of which heaps of wheat grains are lying in several mandis," Bhartiya Kisan Union (Mann), National President, Bhupinder Singh Mann said today.

"Those who could not wait, they are selling crop at lower rates," he said.

"In one of the mandis in Sangrur, farmers are selling crop at Rs 1,380-1390 a quintal as against Rs 1,450 per quintal of MSP which is sheer exploitation of farmers at the time of crisis which they are facing," said Mann.

In some of mandis, even farmers are not being given 'J-form' by procurement agencies which ensure official purchase and payment for the produce.

"Handwritten slips mentioning quantum of wheat purchase are being issued to growers in some mandis which do not account for actual purchase," said Mann.

Before the start of procurement season, Punjab government had claimed that arrangements were made for smooth purchase of wheat crop.

Punjab is looking to purchase 125 lakh tonne of wheat for central pool for current rabi marketing season.

Wheat procurement for current Rabi Marketing season already got delayed by several days in the wake of unseasonal rains and hailstorm.

Later, procurement operations were hit by strike of transporters and labourers.

Punjab Congress had yesterday claimed that it would intensify its protests against the government if the problems of the farming community were not solved at the earliest.