Wheat lying in the open at Jhajjar grain market

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, April 12

Heavy arrivals of wheat coupled with slow pace of lifting at the local grain market has made the farmers a worried lot following bad and unpredictable weather conditions.

Thousands of quintals of wheat are lying in the open due to insufficient covered spaces.

Around 80,000 quintals of wheat has so far arrived since the procurement started. Out of these, 43,000 quintals is yet to be procured by the agencies adding to woes of the farmers. They alleged that the agencies were not procuring their produce due to high moisture content.

Moreover, 27,000 quintals procured is still lying in the market despite orders to transport the crop after the procurement. A market official informed it was the responsibility of commission agents to ensure the lifting of wheat after packing it in gunny bags. “They will have to pay the price if the moisture content is higher after procurement,” he added.

Harender Silana, president of grain market arhtiya association, said most of the wheat had been kept in the open to remove the moisture by drying it under the sun. There was no delay on their part, he added.

Suresh Kumar, mandi supervisor, said 38,000 quintals of wheat had been procured in the market during past three days while 11,000 quintals had been transported to the HAFED godowns.

Rajeev Ranjan, Commissioner, Rohtak Division, directed the officials to cancel the licenses of those arthiyas who violate the rules framed for smooth procurement and lifting of wheat.