Basmati producers allege harassment by pvt traders

Our Correspondent
Fazilka, October 30

Farmers producing basmati have alleged that they are being fleeced by private traders who are bulk buyers of the variety in the district.

“Farmers are being offered low price for popular aromatic Pusa 1121 variety of paddy. They are being paid Rs 3,100 to 3,200 per quintal, but it is being sold at Rs 3,300 to 3,400 in nearby markets,” said Vaneet, a farmer.

In the absence of any minimum support price, farmers are compelled to sell their produce to private traders, including rice millers and the exporters. “Traders have set up the cartel to keep the prices low,” said block president Prem Chand.

“The government has not made any concrete policy on basmati variety, which consumes less water as compared to other varieties,” said Niab Singh, a farmer.

A deputation of the farmers led by Uday Singh Ghuriana, district president, Bhartiya Kisan Union, (Ekta Sidhupur), met Deputy Commissioner, Manpreet Singh today and gave submitted a memorandum in this regard.

The farmers have demanded that open auction should be conducted to buy the produce as only one or two traders visited a shop to buy basmati.

Manjit Singh Sandhu, district mandi officer, Fazilka, said the prices of the basmati variety vary everyday and it was offered to the farmers as per the price of the rice prevailing in the market.