Commission agents protest non-lifting of wheat by FCI from grain markets

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 20

Arthiyas (commission agents) of the New Grain Market held a protest against the Food Corporation of India (FCI) on Friday for not procuring and stalling lifting of wheat during the on-going procurement season. The FCI along with other state agencies procure wheat from local grain markets. 

“The FCI has not fulfilled its promise of procuring crop as it has refrained from the process. The agency purchases 15 to 20 per cent of wheat produced in the country every year. Notably, it has only bought only 36,905 tonnes of wheat out the 6,95,558 tonnes procured by other agencies,” said arthiyas, who are authorised to procure wheat on behalf of government agencies. 

This year, government agencies have decided to procure 9.1 lakh tonnes of wheat, which is 1-lakh tonnes more than the crop purchased last year. In 2017, 8.18 metric tonnes of wheat was procured. The FCI had assured to procure 1.5 lakh tonnes of wheat from Patiala this year. According to sources, 95 per cent of the procurement has been completed in 105 grain markets in the district. 

Arthiyas complained that in several grain markets of Patiala district, the FCI had abstained from wheat procurement. 

 “In Bhunar Hedi, near Sanaur, the FCI was supposed to procure 1.5 lakh gunny bags of wheat, but the agency purchased only 15,000 bags. There are many instances wherein the FCI has backed out from the procurement process without citing any valid reasons,” said Harjit Singh Sheru, president of the New Grain Market, Patiala. With just 2,17,511 tonnes of wheat lifted till today, arthiyas alleged that the FCI was responsible for slow procurement as its attitude was lackadaisical. 

“Everyday, only a single truck makes eight trips to ferry wheat from the market to buffer stock houses. Unfortunately, trucks of the Warehouse, a procurement agency, are parked at buffer stock houses due to slow unloading of gunny bags. The FCI manages buffer stock houses and related work,” said Chandan Das Goyal, chairman, Artiyaas Association.

“All losses will be borne by us due to slow lifting of wheat from the market. There is high risk of losses as weather conditions are not favourable,” said arthiyas. “Most procurement agencies are running out supply of gunny bags, used to fill wheat grains. Warehouse, Pungrain and Markfed have no gunny bags. The lifting of crop is slow due to shortage of gunny bags. Each gunny bag costs Rs 22 to arthiyas,” said the sources.

Earlier, in a meeting with the Patiala Deputy Commissioner, the FCI has committed to supply 1 lakh gunny bags for local grain markets. Arthiyas say the the FCI had yet to fulfil its commitment.

Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts the FCI area manager, Hiresh Hirunia, did not answer phone calls.

Fire destroys standing crop 

Around 1,000 acre land with stubble and ripe crop was destroyed in a fire in Patiala district. A wheat field spread over 600 acre caught fire in Sagra village in Patran, while the crop on 100 acre in Chalaila village, near Patiala, was also destroyed. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Fire brigades from other districts were called to control the blaze. According to farmers, the police and fire officials took long to reach the spot despite being informed about the blaze. Several fire incidents were also reported from Samana. TNS