Karnal: Moisture proves deterrent in providing MSP to farmers

Tribune News Service

Karnal, October 6

On the fourth day of the procurement today, ricemillers who were staying away due to the bank guarantee condition, started purchase of paddy. However, the high moisture content in grain due to untimely rain is acting as a deterrent in providing the minimum support price (MSP) to farmers.

Farmers are forced to sell their produce at rates much below the MSP. The produce is being sold between Rs 1,600-1,800 per quintal while the MSP is Rs 1,960 per quintal. The permissible limit of moisture content in paddy is 17 per cent.

Farmers are claiming that the process of procurement of paddy by government agencies is not smooth and private buyers are purchasing it on behalf of the procurement agencies at throwaway prices.

The district authorities, however, claimed that they had procured 14,417 metric tonnes of paddy so far.

Farmers have also alleged that instead of using moisture meters, private millers are quoting lesser price by determining the moisture arbitrarily. Vishal Kumar, a farmer from Baldi village who came to the Karnal grain market two days ago with 90 quintal of paddy, said his crop was purchased at Rs 1,720.

“Government agencies did not procure my produce and private millers quoted high moisture content of about 23 per cent in my grains without checking. It is a loot. Traders, millers and procurement agencies are hand-in-glove,” he added. Dinesh Kumar, another farmer, said the government had announced that they would procure paddy, but private players are the ones purchasing the produce at their own prices.

Another farmer Paramjeet said he was told that his paddy had high moisture and the grains were discoloured, owing to which they were bidding it below the MSP.

Parveen Kumar, another farmer, refused to sell his paddy as one of the private players quoted only Rs 900 per quintal for his PR-14 variety. He demanded the government to keep a vigil for transparency in procurement.

Chander Parkash, secretary, market committee, Karnal, said the procurement was going smoothly. The issue of procurement at below the MSP did not come to his notice. “I will get it checked and will take action,” he added.