Bajra prices crash in Hisar, Bhiwani districts

In the absence of government procurement agencies, the market prices of bajra have crashed in Hisar and Bhiwani districts, resulting in distress sale by farmers who need money for preparing their fields for the rabi season.

The All India Kisan Sabha will hold a state-level rally tomorrow at Bhattu Kalan in Fatehabad district, demanding procurement of bajra on MSP, besides other issues.

Though the Bhiwani district administration has assured that sales made below MSP will be compensated through the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY), under which the government will provide Rs 575 per quintal to farmers selling their produce at Rs 2,200 per quintal to private buyers, the farmers allege that arhtiyas are not even offering Rs 2,200. As a result, they are being forced to sell between Rs 1,700 and Rs 2,000 per quintal. Thus even on getting the BBY of Rs 575, they are falling short of MSP for their produce.

Deputy Commissioner Sahil Gupta today directed all officials concerned to maintain transparency in procurement and ensure the purchase of bajra only from those farmers who are registered on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal and directed officials to start purchase at all designated grain markets in the district by HAFED and the Haryana Warehousing Corporation.

The DC has issued a warning that any official or employee found involved in malpractice during procurement will face action. He also directed the officials to make arrangements in mandis to prevent any inconvenience to farmers.

Gupta also said the government had recently amended the portal system. Earlier, only entries at the government rate of Rs 2,200 were being accepted. Now, farmers can enter any sale rate below or above Rs 2,200 and will still be eligible for the Rs 575 per quintal compensation under BBY. This step has been taken to ensure that the farmers can benefit, even if they sell to private players at lower rates.

In Hisar district, around 5,500 quintals of bajra have already arrived in the grain markets, but not a single grain has been procured by any of the agencies, leaving farmers at the mercy of private traders offering rates far below MSP.

The farmers, however, alleged that despite meeting all quality standards set by the government for the procurement of bajra, agencies were illegally rejecting the crop by declaring it "discoloured" or citing other baseless deficiencies. “As a result, farmers already affected by natural calamities are being forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices, damaging not only their livelihoods but also the reputation of the Haryana Government,” said Balbir Thakan, joint secretary of All India Kisan Sabha in Bhiwani today.

He urged the DC to call a joint meeting of the representatives of all agencies, agents, and farmers’ unions to resolve the issue promptly.

He argued that even with the Rs 575 compensation through BBY, farmers are not receiving MSP of Rs 2,775 per quintal set by the Central government. Despite claims by the government to purchase every grain, the situation on the ground tells a different story, he claimed.

An official of the market committee also admitted that government purchase was not taking place, as the produce was not meeting Fair Average Quality standards.