Farmers, agents suffering due to government apathy, says state Vyapar Mandal

Haryana Vyapar Mandal state president Bajrang Dass Garg has alleged that farmers and commission agents are suffering this procurement season due to “wrong policies” of the state government.

Garg, who chaired a meeting of trader representatives here on Saturday, discussed issues related to the procurement of paddy, bajra, and cotton in the state.

He alleged that government agencies were not purchasing kharif crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), resulting in losses to the farmers.

He said the MSP of paddy was Rs 2,389 per quintal, but farmers were selling it at Rs 1,750 to Rs 2,200 per quintal.

He alleged that cotton farmers were suffering a similar plight due to the absence of government agencies at markets, as growers were selling produce at Rs 6,500-Rs 7,000 per quintal despite an MSP of Rs 8,100 per quintal.

Garg alleged that the situation of bajra farmers was worse, as, despite an MSP of Rs 2,775 per quintal, growers were forced to sell their produce at Rs 1,500-Rs 2,000 per quintal.

The trader leader alleged that the state government was trying to ruin commission agents by abolishing commission on cotton and mustard.

“If commission agents do not get the 2.5 per cent commission on these crops, how will they survive in the mandi?” he said, adding that the state government should purchase all crops through commission agents, as done previously.

Garg alleged that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had announced the purchase of paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal, but the government had not even procured it at the MSP of Rs 2,389.

“The Chief Minister’s announcement is a bundle of lies. The BJP government is a government of lies and slogans. It has only deceived the public with false promises,” he added.