Amritsar farmers protest delay in paddy procurement

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, October 2

Farmers under the banner of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha protested outside the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Om Parkash Soni and Ajnala MLA Harpartap Singh Ajnala.

The protesters sought immediate commencement of paddy procurement in the state.

The protests have been triggered after the Centre decided to delay the procurement till October 11 on the pretext of high moisture content in foodgrains due to recent spell of rain. Earlier, the procurement was scheduled to start from October 1.

The agitating farmers said their crop was ready for harvesting and in absence of procurement by the government, they were being forced to sell their produce to private players below the minimum support price (MSP).

Protesting outside the residence of Soni, a farm leader Gurdev Singh Jheeta claimed that he had to sell his paddy at Rs 1,550 per quintal while the government had fixed the MSP at Rs 1,960 per quintal.

“Farmers have no infrastructure or resources to store their produce even for a few days. They have to sell it immediately after harvesting,” he said.

Farmers reasoned that every year, the procurement begins on October 1, but why has it been delayed this year. Last year, the paddy procurement was advanced by a few days and had begun in last week of September.

The farmers also initiated an indefinite protest outside the residence of MLA Ajnala. A farm leader Dhanwant Singh Khatraekalan said the protest would continue till the procurement begins.

The farm leaders held the state government responsible for the delay in procurement and said the Centre and state’s policies were causing them financial loss.

Raj Rishi Mehra, District Controller, Food and Civil Supplies, said the procurement of paddy will begin from October 3 (Sunday). He said farmers have been advised to bring the produce, which has moisture content within the permissible limits. He said rice millers have also been intimated regarding the decision taken by the state government and farmers will not face any problem in the grain markets.

Brief spell of rain

The area witnessed heavy rain from 6 am to 7 am on Saturday resulting in waterlogging in fields and grain markets. Labourers at Bhagatawala Grain Market had a tough time draining out rainwater. Farmers feared that as the government has delayed paddy procurement, more spells of rain may damage standing paddy crops.