Farmers block road over non-procurement of paddy

Tension prevailed in Nilokheri grain market on Saturday as local farmers and labourers staged separate protests over procurement and wage issues, respectively, disrupting normal activities around the area.

At around 1 pm, a group of farmers blocked the road in front of the market gate by parking tractors and trailers loaded with paddy on road against the non-procurement of paddy. They alleged that rice millers were not coming forward to purchase their produce and that they had been camping there for the past four-five days. The agitation brought traffic to a standstill for nearly an hour.

The farmers said in the past week, paddy was procured between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,700 per quintal. “We have repeatedly requested the authorities, but no millers are coming forward. We request the authorities to blacklist them. Their names should be highlighted for future also,” said a farmer.

Another farmer alleged that even the secretary of the Nilokheri market committee was not listening to them. “We will not sell our produce under these conditions,” he said.

“The government had claimed that procurement on MSP would start from September 22, but nothing has happened. There is no moisture issue in our crops, but despite that, our crop is being procured below MSP,” another farmer said.

SHO Butana, market committee secretary, reached the spot and tried to pacify the farmers. After assurance that procurement would start soon, the farmers lifted the blockade. “Millers are not procuring paddy. We have asked another purchaser from Nigdhu to start the procurement. We have brought the issue to the notice of senior officials,” said Ashok Kumar, secretary, Nilokheri market committee.

Meanwhile, at around 2.30 pm, a fresh protest broke out as mandi labourers, led by Gaurav Pradhan, president of the Labour Mandi Nilokheri, launched a strike, demanding parity in wages with Taraori mandi labourers. They warned that they would not resume work until their demands were accepted.