Rain forecast worries farmers

Tribune News Service
Patiala, October 10

While the paddy procurement has already been delayed due to recent rainfall in the state in September, officials of the Meteorological Department here are expecting light rain on Thursday and Friday. This has led to fear of further delay in the procurement process among farmers and commission agents.

The district administration said 91,160 metric tonnes of paddy had reached the grain markets in the district. Of this, 86,307 metric tonnes of paddy had already been procured from farmers.

Harjit Singh, president of artiya association at the Patiala New Grain market, said, “The mandis have not received as much paddy as was expected by now. This is due to recent rainfall which has left the crop with moisture. The crop, which the farmers have already brought, is also wet and is difficult to purchase.”

With the Meteorological Department officials predicting rain in the coming days, famers have expressed fear of losing crop in field and grain market. Gurdyal Singh, a farmer at the New Grain Market in the city, on Wednesday, said, “I have brought my crop to the market. The officials here said it has moisture and we are trying to dry it as much as we can. They should take the crop directly from the farmer.” His son sitting nearby said, “If it rains on Thursday, farmers may suffer losses for crop that is standing in fields and that which is yet to be lifted from grain markets.”

Another famer in Saanuri market raised concern over lack of space in mandis. Bhana, a farmer from Rasulpur village, said, “Some farmers have been forced to return to their villages or go to other mandis due to shortage of storage space.”