Early basmati harvest faces price slump in Tarn Taran

Farmers are being exploited in the local grain market, as they are not receiving appropriate prices for the early varieties of basmati (Pusa Basmati 1509). The arrival of this crop began about a week ago. Initially, farmers were offered Rs 3,200 per quintal, but the price has since dropped to less than Rs 2,900, although a few farmers did receive better prices.

Tarn Taran is the only district-level grain market where basmati varieties are procured. Farmers not only from different parts of Tarn Taran district but also from nearby areas of Kapurthala and Ferozepur come to sell their early basmati varieties here. These varieties are procured by private firms, as government agencies do not purchase them.

Mandi supervisor Amarinder Singh said that the highest price at the start was Rs 3,275 per quintal, which has decreased to Rs 3,231 today.

Ranbir Singh, a farmer from Kot Dharam Chand Khurd, said he was offered Rs 2,750 per quintal on Saturday. Meanwhile, Gurinder Singh from Bagrian village and Lakhbir Singh from Jarmastpur village were given Rs 2,870 and Rs 2,765 per quintal, respectively, today, and both expressed their frustration.

Ranbir Singh said private firms have been given free rein by the state and Union governments to exploit farmers in the Mandis. Tajinderpal Singh Rasulpur, leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, condemned the exploitation of farmers by private firms. He added that farmers’ organisations have long demanded that all crops be procured by government agencies at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to prevent private firms from taking advantage of farmers.