Tardy lifting of paddy tests farmers’ patience in Panipat
The arrival of paddy is picking up pace in grain markets but the tardy lifting of the procured paddy is yet to gain momentum. Thousands of procured paddy bags and ‘dheris’ of paddy crop are lying in the grain market in the open. As per available information, HAFED has lifted only 10 per cent of the procured crop. The paddy crop 1509, which is being procured by millers, is also being lifted at a very slow pace. Thousands of birds are seen hovering over the grain market waiting to peck at the grains.
As per sources, two agencies HAFED and Haryana Warehouse Corporation (HWC) are procuring the paddy crop in the Panipat grain market. HAFED has procured approximately 3,205 MT while the HWC has procured a total of 1272.5 MT paddy crop so far in the district.
Neetu, District Food Supply Controller (DFSC), said paddy arrival was picking up in the grain markets.
‘Agencies should do the job within 72 hrs’
Over 30,000 bags are waiting to be lifted in the grain market. The government agencies are supposed to lift the procured produce within 72 hours. — Dharambir Singh Malike, vice-president, Haryana Arhtiya Association
“Some millers have registered themselves and they have started lifting the produce but it is very slow,” she added.
Apart from this, some procured paddy has been lifted and sent to the godowns directly, the DFSC asserted. “The government agencies are lifting slowly so that the paddy does not get moisture in the godowns,” she said. The paddy is being lifted by the millers but they have some issues with the government.
A farmer Balbir from Kutani village said farmers were facing problems in selling their produce. He further said some officials were harassing farmers who overstay in the grain market to keep an eye on their produce.
Rammehar, another farmer of Kutani village, said farmers had to stay in the grain market for 2-3 days to sell their produce. “The farmers can’t leave the place even ay night as the produce could get stolen as no security arrangements have been made,” he said.
“The government purchase is very slow as the agencies are purchasing the paddy selectively,” he said further. The moisture level is within permissible level in my paddy, but the officials refused to purchase it giving the excuse that there are more leaves in the paddy, he said.
Vinod Bhoker, the grain market president, said, “The arrival of the paddy crop began as soon as the government started procurement. But, the lifting process is very slow here,” he said.
Echoing the same view, Dharambir Singh Malik, vice-president, Haryana Arhtiya Association, said the lifting of procured paddy was very slow. “Over 5,000 bags of paddy are still lying in my shop, while over 30,000 bags are waiting to get lifted in the grain market,” Malik added.
“The government agencies are supposed to lift the procured produce within 72 hours, the farmers would get the price of their produce only after lifting of the crop,” Malik said. “Some issues between millers and the government need to be resolved. The agencies did not pick produce from the markets due to which the number of procured bags increased day by day,” he said.
