Chandigarh: The previous wounds of the farmers, due to rain and hailstorms, were not yet healed and the weather turned bad again. The weather in Haryana again became inclement and the produce of the farmers is lying in the open yards in the Mandis. The farmers are very much anxious and frightened, said leaders of the Haryana unit of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).
The farmers’ union has slammed the government for delay in the lifting of the product and not making the payment to the farmers well in time despite the claim of the government that the payment will be made within 72 hours of purchase.
After visiting the grain market at Bahal in district Bhiwani, District Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha Bhiwani, Master Jagroshan, and Joint Secretary Dr. Balbir Singh along with the representatives of Bahal Committee, on Wednesday, criticized the government for delayed lifting and late payment.
“Due to frequent changes in the weather, the farmers of the region are under pressure to harvest the crop quickly and to bring their produce in the grain market for sale; the arrival of commodities in the market has increased, but due to non-lifting of mustard and wheat that came earlier and due to lack of space in the mandis, the agents have stopped unloading the crops, the farmers have to wander here and there with the crops,” says Dr. Balbir Singh.
Giving details, Singh says, “The seriousness of the situation can be understood from the mustard figures in the market. So far, one lakh seventeen thousand quintal mustard has arrived in Bahal Anaj Mandi, out of which 80 thousand quintal mustard has been procured and lifting has been done only for 47 thousand quintal mustard. Thus only 40% of mustard has been lifted and 68% of mustard has been procured. Therefore, it is clear that the government's claim of buying grain is proving to be a hoax.”
The Kisan Sabha leaders demanded that if the mustard-wheat commodities that arrived in the mandis are not lifted soon after purchase, then the organization will have to adopt the path of agitation against the negligence of the government and administration. Along with this, the claim of payment within 72 hours of the sale is also a hollow slogan as till now only the initial 5-6 days payment has been made to some farmers. Due to this, it is becoming difficult for the farmers to pay off the previous loans, sow the next crops and bear the brunt of children's school fees.
Feeling the nerve of the inclement weather, Haryana's Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Jai Prakash Dalal told the officials responsible for grain purchase that the Meteorological Department is predicting rain in the coming days and the arrival in the mandis is increasing due to slow lifting. In such a situation, the officers associated with the lifting works should speed up the lifting works of wheat.
He said that it becomes imperative to take some measures to expedite the process of immediate lifting of wheat from the mandis. Agriculture Minister has issued orders to the Deputy Commissioners of all districts and all District Food and Supplies Controllers to expedite the process of wheat lifting.
He said that in addition to the contractors already approved by the government, the process of lifting wheat produces from other transporters and agents also, at the approved rates, should be expedited so that every grain of the farmers' crop can be purchased safely. It is pertinent to mention here that on Tuesday, Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar also directed officers to ensure the timely lifting of wheat from mandis.
Speaking in a program at Ambala Yesterday, on the issue of wheat lifting in the mandis, the Haryana Chief minister directed the officials to ensure that as soon as the wheat is weighed in the mandis, it should be lifted promptly. For this, the officers should maintain constant contact with the officials of local transporters and procurement agencies and give necessary guidelines. The officers should also inspect the mandis and resolve the problems by taking stock of the procurement arrangements on the spot, he added.
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