City grain market lacks basics

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 22

The Patiala grain market lacks basic facilities despite the fact that the procurement season is set to begin  on April 1. This year, government agencies have decided to procure 9.1 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, which is about 1-lakh metric tonnes above the past year. in 2017, 8.18 metric tonnes of wheat was procured. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has assured to procure 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat from Patiala this year.

Notably, Patiala had topped the state in wheat procurement last year. Commenting on the delay in making payments to farmers, Harish Prakash, area manager, FCI, Patiala, said “The FCI pays farmers within the stipulated period through the RTGS, an online payment system. Regarding transportation and storage by the FCI, there is no problem at all."

Meanwhile, farmers complained that the grain market lacked a drinking water facility besides seating arrangements. Jung Singh from Ardaspur Village in Patiala, who had come to the Patiala grain market to sell mustard seeds, said, “Usually, arhtiyas provide us all facilities. No such arrangements have been made by the authorities." However, Jasvinder Singh Dhaliwal, district mandi officer, said, “Tenders to provide basic facilities at grain markets have been passed and the work in this regard will commence in a couple of days.”

Talking about the delay in payments, Jung Singh said, “ Farmers often get their payment late, forcing them to sell their produce to private players at much less price.”