Harvesting delayed, growers fear dip in crop weight

Non-procurement of produce and slow pace of lifting has not just resulted in severe space crunch at mandis but has also delayed harvesting of ripen crop.

Produce lying along garbage

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• Produce not procured by government agencies has been dumped along the roads. At Maqsuda grain market, farmers unloaded their produce near a garbage dump due to severe space crunch
• Officials said more space would be created by shifting garbage to one place. “We will ensure that there is enough clean space for the farmers to unload their produce,” said a senior official.

The farmers fear that further delay may result in reduction of moisture content and weight of foodgrain.

Hardev Singh of Bhogpur, who came to sell his produce at Maqsuda mandi, said his crop on 12 acres of land was yet to be harvested and the moisture content in paddy crop was recorded at 14 per cent. “We are badly stuck and there’s no way out,” he said.

Most of the farmers at grain markets just ask “Jhonna katke rakhna kithe hai?”. Those who had sown long duration varieties can still wait, but for others it’s a difficult situation, they said.

Sandeep Singh of Khichipur village said, “The situation is grave. I am yet to harvest the crop on a few acres. In my village, grain has shrivelled.”

Vineet Kumar of Nakodar added, “I am waiting for the lifting to commence. There is no space in the mandis. The weight of mature crop is bound to reduce.”