BKU threatens stir if entire sunflower seeds not procured

Nitish Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, May 18

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has threatened an agitation if the state government fails to ensure 100 per cent purchase of sunflower seeds this year. The union has also sought early purchase of seeds as the arrivals are expected to start next week.

Gurnam Singh Charuni, BKU (Charuni) chief, told The Tribune, “The crop has matured and the arrivals will start within a few days. Though the procurement begins from June 1, the actual purchase is always delayed by a few days. The government must start procurement from May 25 instead of June 1”.

He said, “The crop is grown in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Panchkula and Yamunanagar but only two purchase centres (Shahbad and Ambala) have been opened for procurement. In the absence of purchase centres, farmers are forced to sell their produce to private players at lower rates. The government must open an adequate number of purchase centres for the convenience of farmers”.

The union also held a meeting at Shahbad on Saturday and sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister. It demanded that the crop be purchased through commission agents, as they have made arrangements to protect the produce from inclement weather.