Clear last year’s stock from rice mills, say arhtiyas

Tarn Taran, August 22

The district branch of the Federation of Arhtiya Association, Punjab, has demanded the early lifting of last year’s rice stock stored in mills as the paddy season is going to start soon. Kulbir Singh Kasel, district president of the arhtiya association, said in a statement here today that in Tarn Taran, the paddy season usually started early than at other places and the crop arrival was expected any time. He said rice millers of the district had already announced not to store paddy of the present season in their mills as these were occupied with last year stocks which had not been shifted to godowns till date. He said the present situation was critical for farmers and commission agents (Arhtiyas) due to the possible glut of paddy on its arrival. Kasel demanded the early lifting (shifting) of last year’s rice stock lying in mills to make space for the new arrival. He said the state and the Central Governments must take the matter seriously to avoid any trouble to farmers and arhtiyas.