No entry to wheat with high moisture content in mandi

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 22

In a strong message to farmers bringing wheat containing high moisture content than the permissible limit, the mandi board officials on Wednesday did not allow many trolleys to enter the Bhagtanwala grain market and sent them back.

As per guidelines issued by the government, the wheat with moisture content up to 12 per cent is fit for procurement. The mandi board officials stated that as wheat arrival had just started they wanted to send a strong signal so that farmers should bring their crop only if it was fully ripened.

The mandi board has set up a counter to check passes of trolleys and grain moisture content. Most of the farmers are also confused about the system of passes started by the government this procurement season to keep check on rush at markets.

Jagpreet Singh, a farmer said, “The guidelines state that one farmer is allowed to bring one trolley only. If a farmer has more than three acres of land, he would require more passes. Besides, the farmers get their all fields harvested in one go, what would the farmer do with the remaining crop.” The arthiyas too are not much sure about the system at present, he said.

Meanwhile, the district mandi officials stated that the system was working efficiently. Amardeep Singh, Secretary, Market Committee, Bhagatawala, said, “The arthiyas can issue more than one pass to a farmer depending on his requirement. One pass is for one unit (trolley) and in case he has further requirement, he can get the same from his arthiya.”