Indefinite call of strike by arhtiyas set to hinder e-trading in mandis

Vishal Joshi

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Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, September 19

The decision of arhtiyas to proceed on an indefinite strike from September 23 to oppose the digital procurement has once again jeopardised the Haryana Government’s ambitious plan of introducing e-trading in all mandis.

Though paddy has started arriving in the mandis, its official procurement at the MSP of Rs 1,590 per quintal will commence from October 1.

Ashok Gupta, president of Haryana State Anaj Mandi Arhtiya Association, said e-trading was “impractical” and would only add to the problems of traders and farmers.

After a meeting with representatives of various mandis here today, Gupta said arhtiyas were holding a protest rally in Karnal on September 23 to oppose digital procurement and direct payment to bank accounts of farmers.

“It has been unanimously decided that arhtiyas will suspend work in mandis across Haryana from the coming Saturday. There will be no procurement in mandis till the state government withdraws its decision on e-trading and direct payment to farmers,” said Gupta.

He said digital procurement was a time-consuming arrangement that would hinder the smooth sale of food grains by farmers.

Gupta further claimed that the pilot e-trading project started in the selected 59 markets was not successful.

Gupta blamed Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar and other BJP legislators for giving false assurances that conventional procurement would continue.

Last year, the state government had also planned to introduce digital procurement but the decision was opposed by arhtiyas in September.

Previously commission agents had claimed that the arhtiyas were computer illiterate and needed time to invest in computers and the qualified staff to manage the records.

However, Gupta, today said the state government wanted to dismantle the commission agents under the garb of reforms and it would severely affect the farming community.

“Arhtiya is a backbone of the Indian farming sector where a farmer gets cash without any precondition from a commission agent. No kisan union has ever demanded direct payment to farmers. If the state government will try to implement such a system arbitrarily, it will be fought back,” he said.