Stuck in mandis, no cheer for farmers ahead of Diwali

Farmer Amritpal of Sheikhein village is spending nights in Maqsudan Mandi. A day is left for Diwali and the hapless farmers like Amritpal are left with no option but to stay in mandis, look after their produce and waiting for it to be put into the bardanas.

Amritpal said he had not received any payment yet. He sleeps on his tractor. “Ehi saadi Diwali hai ji (This is our Diwali). I have got my two tractors here. Half of my produce is lying here on the road in the absence of proper space while rest is still on the tractor as I don’t know where will I keep it) he said.

Festive season is here, but there’s nothing to cheer about for farmers.

Farmers have been sitting in mandis awaiting their produce to get purchased so that they can get money to clear their debts. “With the payment that we get for our produce, we don’t do anything for ourselves. First, we have to clear the dues of moneylenders, then we can buy seeds and fertilisers for the next crop. This time, things have been too hard,” said Sandeep Singh, a farmer from Khichipur.

These have been distressing and depressing days for them. Farmer Hardev Singh from Bhogpur allege that the arhtiyas had been asking them agree to the point that they will be given payments with a cut. “The situation is tensed. We are in dire need of money for our next crop as well and there is a huge debt,” he added.