Kisan unions warn of protests over delay in wheat procurement in Punjab

Leaders of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) have warned of large-scale protests if immediate steps are not taken to streamline wheat procurement across mandis in Punjab, alleging delays and administrative apathy.

In a statement, the organisation said the procurement situation in state mandis remains grim, with farmers, already reeling under recent adverse weather, now forced to wait for days due to the government’s failure to ensure timely procurement.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Sarwan Singh Pandher claimed that in the Majha region, farmers have been waiting for up to three days for procurement to begin, while in the Malwa belt the wait has stretched to nearly ten days, leading to mounting distress among cultivators.

Issuing a stern warning, Pandher said that if procurement does not start immediately, the unions will be compelled to launch major agitations in the coming days.

Leaders said a meeting was held in which it was decided that all affiliated unions would mobilise at the district level across Punjab. They added that wherever procurement hurdles persist, joint protests would be organised to ensure smooth and uninterrupted purchase of wheat.