Agencies to DC: Can’t procure wheat due to its moisture content

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 23

Unseasonal rain and high-velocity winds that troubled farmers for two days in the previous week continue to trouble them now as procurement agencies in the district have written to Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma that it was not possible for them to procure wheat that is arriving in mandis across the district due to its high-moisture content. The inclement weather has affected the wheat crop, leading to lustre loss.

Notably, from April 15 to April 17, rain and high-velocity winds damaged crops in some of the districts in the state, leaving farmers worried. Reports of wheat crop flattening had received from some areas of Jalandhar.

The agencies, Pungrain, Markfed and FCI, in the Bhogpur, Kartarpur, Phillaur, Mehatpur, Nakodar areas, in their letters to the Deputy Commissioner have said 80-90 per cent of the wheat that had arrived in mandis had lost its lustre and the moisture content had also gone up and in such a condition it was not possible to procure the crop as it would be prone to pests too.

The agencies have told that the moisture content has risen from 14 per cent to 18 per cent whereas the normal moisture content is 12 per cent.

The officials said till yesterday, the arrival was near 10,000 MP, hence, it would be early to comment that the problem consists across the district. But in the amount of wheat that had received in the district, there was a moisture content, apart from lustre lost.

District Food Supplies Controller Narinder Singh said: “We have received letters from inspectors of agencies and have forwarded grievances to higher- ups and if relaxation will come, it will come for the district too.”

DC holds meeting

Meanwhile, presiding over a meeting with heads of the procurement agencies at his office, the DC said steps must be taken to ensure that procured grains were lifted immediately. All-out efforts must be made for proper lifting of the grains within 48 hours of procurement. He said arrangements had also been made to ensure that the payment of grains was also made to the farmers within 48 hours of the purchase.

Kapurthala DC inspects grain market

Phagwara: Kapurthala DC DPS Kharwanda, on Tuesday directed procurement agencies to expedite lifting of the purchased wheat. He inspected the grain market. Later, he interacted with members of the Arhtiya Association, farmers, and inspectors of food procurement agencies. He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made at the market. — OC