Barnala, October 18
The chairman of Punjab Mandi Board, Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, today visited Dhanaula, Barnala and Mehal Kalan to take stock of the ongoing paddy procurement process and the problems being faced by the farmers, the labourers and the arhtiyas.
About the slow lifting of paddy and shortage of gunny bags, Lakhowal said due to the strike by the rice millers, there had been some problems in the procurement of paddy, but the matter had now been resolved.
The Mandi Board chairman said he would speak to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for the early release of the payment to the paddy farmers.
Lakhowal said the Mandi Board had formed flying squads to check irregularities in the grain markets. He said he was hopeful that checking by the flying squads would help in increasing the market fee.
He said the Punjab Mandi Board was paying special attention to increase the income of the farmers and provide them with better marketing facilities. He said in near future, marketing infrastructure would be built. There was also a proposal to abolish the market fee on vegetables and fruits so that farmers get remunerative prices, he added.
Lakhowal said the Mandi Board had approved a scheme for giving direct relief to the farmers, in case their mature crop is damaged in the fields or while going to the grain markets due to natural calamity.