Farmers told to give Aadhaar to sell paddy at Ambala Cantt market

Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Ambala, October 24

Farmers reaching the Ambala Cantonment Grain Market to sell their paddy stock have been asked to submit their Aadhaar card numbers with the commission agents as per a new system implemented from Wednesday.

Secretary of the Ambala Cantonment market has issued the instructions regarding the Aadhaar card following the Ambala deputy commissioner’s directions to market secretaries to ensure that no stock purchased from other states on cheaper rates is offloaded in the grain markets.

The total purchase in the district as on October 23 was 6,04,371 MT, while the purchase during the corresponding period last year was 6,56,742 MT. An official said the unwanted rainfall had badly damaged the paddy crop this year and the arrival had also dropped, compared to last year, but it was better than expected.

KK Malik, secretary, Ambala Cantonment Grain Market, said “The commission agents have been asked to get the Aadhaar numbers from the farmers and get it registered during the auction, otherwise their stock will not be registered by the auction recorder for purchase. The arrivals at the cantonment grain market last year and this year till October 23 is almost the same, over 2.50 lakh quintals”.

“The commission agents have been asked to give the number of farmers who had offloaded stocks here last year and the names of new farmers as well. The farmers from other states can bring their produce but they have to submit their Aadhaar card number,” he stated.

Sushil Kumar, a commission agent, said “We have started asking the farmers to bring Aadhaar card. It is a good step as it will bring transparency.”

Deputy Commissioner Sharandeep Kaur said “The market secretaries have been directed to ensure that no paddy stock purchased on cheaper rates from other states is sold here. The illegal trade practices will not be allowed in the grain markets.”