Slow lifting leaves Sirsa mandis full, tardy payments up farmers’ woes

Wheat procurement in Haryana began on April 1, but instead of bringing relief, it has left farmers in Sirsa district struggling. Despite a bumper crop and record arrivals at grain markets, the slow pace of lifting is causing major distress among the farming community.

As on April 17, over 35 lakh quintals of wheat have reached Sirsa’s mandis, compared to just 21 lakh quintals during the same period last year. However, only around 4.85 lakh quintals have been lifted so far, leaving nearly 31 lakh quintals lying in the open.

The delay in lifting is largely due to poor planning and pending approvals. Out of 42 procurement centres in the district, only 12 are fully operational. Transportation tenders are still waiting for clearance, and a shortage of trucks and tractors has worsened the situation.

The overflowing mandis in Sirsa, Dabwali, Kalanwali, Ellenabad and Rania have created traffic and storage issues. With wheat piling up under the open sky, farmers are concerned about potential crop damage from heat or unexpected rain.

Payments have also been delayed, adding to the frustration. “We were promised quick payment, but it has been more than a week and we haven’t received anything,” said a farmer from Ellenabad.

Sirsa Marketing Committee secretary Virender Mehta confirmed that a meeting was held with commission agents and purchase agencies to address the issues. The contractor has now assured that proper lifting would begin soon.

Meanwhile, District Marketing Enforcement Officer Rahul Kundu reported that wheat is arriving at a rate of around 7 lakh quintals per day in Sirsa. Of the total procurement, the government has purchased over 31 lakh quintals and private agencies have bought around 44,000 quintals. But lifting remains alarmingly low.

Farmers and traders fear huge losses if weather conditions worsen. Many blame the government for poor coordination between procurement agencies, lack of transport, labour shortages and insufficient storage arrangements.

MP Kumari Selja has criticised the government’s handling of the situation, calling its assurances “hollow”. Across Haryana, similar issues are being reported with large quantities of wheat lying uncovered in several districts.

Farmers are now demanding faster lifting, immediate payment and better protection for their produce. Officials have promised improvement once the tender process is complete, but with mandis already overwhelmed, patience is running out.