Not enough gunny bags worry wheat seed farmers

Strap: Blame HSDC, say produce lying in open fields

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 30

Farmers growing wheat seed for the Haryana Seed Development Corporation (HSDC) are a worried lot as their produce is lying in the fields for want of gunny bags that are to be supplied by the Corporation.

Farmers said the HSDC was supposed to supply over 7.50 lakh gunny bags to its units in Sirsa, Hisar, Umri, Tohana, Pataudi and Yamunanagar for the procurement of wheat seed from farmers mandated to grow it.

“However, the number of bags supplied so far is much less than the actual requirement. Our wheat is lying in the fields awaiting bags. Until we pack our produce in bags and supply it to the HSDC, we will not be paid. And if it rains, we will suffer heavy losses,” said a farmer from Sirsa.

Rajinder Beniwal, who was elected a director of the HSDC from amongst farmers, claimed that the Corporation did not have bags and their purchase will need a time-consuming exercise. He demanded that farmers be given an additional Rs 18 per quintal to purchase their own bags and claimed KRIBHCO was already doing so.

HSDC Managing Director Narhari Singh Bangar said 5 lakh gunny bags had been supplied to farmers. He said HSDC has to procure 3,87,268 quintals of wheat seed from farmers and double the number of gunny bags is needed as one bag holds 50 kg. “The procurement process is still in progress and the demand of bags would be met as and when needed,” he said.

On allegations that the Corporation was yet to purchase bags, a time-consuming process involving the high-powered committee, Bangar said the HSDC may buy once-used bags or could provide funds to the farmers, as per the policy of the National Seeds Corporation. “If we decide on the latter, farmers will be returned their bags once the seed reaches HSDC godowns,” he said.