State mandis may witness wheat glut; labour strike adds to trouble

Khanna: The purchase of wheat at the Asia’s largest grain market has been badly hit due to a strike by labourers of state purchasing agencies. If the matter is not resolved in a day or two, there is will be a glut of wheat at the Khanna grain market. Though the FCI is making some purchases, farmers are forced to wait due to non-procurement by state agencies. Ashwani Modgil, secretary, market committee, said the strike had hit the procurement process. He said  about 70,000 quintals were purchased by the FCI while another 17,000 quintals had been lying in the market. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, president, commission agents association, said about 1 lakh bags of wheat were lying in the grain market. A glut-like situation could arise if the state agencies did not begin the purchase. BKU president Balvir Singh Rajewal said the purchase agencies were harassing farmers and the strike of labourers had nothing to do with the purchase. He said BKU workers would stage dharnas in front of residences of the Akali Dal and BJP ministers tomorrow. 

Wheat over 24 acres gutted

Moga: At least 24 acres of standing wheat crop was damaged in a fire allegedly caused due to a short circuit at Rauli village in the district on Sunday. The local naib-tehsildar assured the affected farmers that he would send a report to the district magistrate and seek adequate compensation for them. Sources said the crop belonged to four farmers. Of these, three had taken land on lease for cultivation. The short circuit was caused by a cut-down of the main electricity supply line. The affected farmers have demanded compensation for their loss, besides registration of an FIR against the power officials concerned.  

Moisture level high

Jalandhar: Farmers in the district are facing a tough time in selling their produce mainly due to high moisture content. A 70-year-old farmer, Karam Singh of Lidhran village, said he came to the grain market yesterday. “I learnt that no government agency has starting procuring wheat although some commission agents are buying. I agreed to sell my produce to an agent, but I was told that the moisture level is above 15 per cent. “I hired some labourers and spread the wheat in the grain market and spent the night keeping guard of the crop. I could only manage to sell a part of my produce on a temporary slip.” Like Karam Singh, farmers from across the region are forced to spend sleepless nights in the grain market to sell their produce. “The government must announce some relaxation in moisture content norm to bail out farmers as we have already suffered a loss of yield due to adverse weather,” said Karam Singh. Gurman Singh of Mashiana village near Phillaur said his produce didn’t meet the permissible moisture level. He had to hire labour to dry up the grain. Harjeet Singh, a representative of the Arhtiya Association, Jalandhar, said mainly Pungrain, Punsup and Markfed procured wheat from the Jalandhar grain market. 

Labour, transport shortage

Mandi Ahmedgarh: The arrival of wheat is yet to pick up, thanks to inclement weather. Besides, non-cooperation of labourers and truck operators has upset the procurement arrangements at the local grain market and purchase centers in Ludhiana and Sangrur districts. Anticipating a glut of produce in the coming days, the commission agents have started making arrangements to store the grain. PVC sheets, weather proof bags and sanitary arrangements for farmers have been made at the grain market. Farmers alleged the administration had failed to start procurement of wheat even as over 20,000 bags were lying in mandis. Accusing the administration of failing to resolve labour and transport problems, the farmer leaders alleged the tendency would help private traders exploit farmers and force them to sell their produce at reduced prices. Commission agents Surinder Kuradchhapa and Avtar Krishan Sharma said they had to make extra arrangements to deal with the situation. Nirmal Singh Cheema, chairman, market committee, claimed legislator Iqbal Singh Jhoondan had already taken up the issue with the authorities concerned and the procurement would start soon.

Follow MP’s system: Gill

Chandigarh: Rajya Sabha Member and former Union Minister MS Gill today said the state should follow the wheat marketing system developed by the Madhya Pradesh government. Gill said he studied the system and it appeared far better than the one followed in Punjab. He said after sowing wheat, all farmers gave details of the area under the crop and expected yield in a form to the government. “This enables the government to make an assessment as to how much wheat will arrive in the market and the arrangements required. The procurement agencies then inform farmers turn by turn to bring their produce to the market,” he said. “In Punjab, grain markets are cluttered due to sudden rush of wheat. Nothing of that sort happens in MP and the entire wheat is procured without any fuss and trouble,” he said. “The state should send its team to Madhya Pradesh to study their system,” he added.

(Inputs by Gurminder Singh Grewal, Kulwinder Sandhu, Gagandeep Singh, Jaswant Shetra & Sarabjit Dhaliwal)