Shortage of gunny bags worries wheat seed growers

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 HSDC director from among 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 Rs18 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 had to procure 3,87,268 quintals of wheat seed from farmers and double the number of gunny bags was needed as one bag holds 50 kg. “The procurement is still in progress and the demand of bags will 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 panel, 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.”