Farmers protest ‘unfair’ deduction

Some farmers in Baragudha village complained that they were being “unfairly” charged during paddy procurement. They reported that 5 to 15 kg per quintal of the produce was deducted during purchase under the pretext of excess moisture in their paddy. Farmers like Gobind Ram, Surjeet Singh and others protested, stating that their paddy had only 17 per cent of moisture after drying it for three days. However, deductions were still being made. They alleged that the entire procurement process was controlled by the mill owner’s staff, instead of agency officials. Amit Kumar, Purchaser, Food Supply Department, said, “My job is to check moisture and record it. I check the moisture myself, and no private staff is involved. If farmers face any issues, they should report to the Market Committee.”