Wheat yield hit, farmers pin hope on easing of norms

Ravneet Singh

Patiala, April 14

Already hit by excessive heat since March causing shrivelling of wheat grains, farmers are now banking on relaxations in the procurement laws by the Centre.

To make matters worse, drizzle was witnessed in several pockets of Patiala on Thursday evening. According to the farmers, the yield has dropped by at least 30 per cent this season.

Farmers and commission agents said they were expecting relaxations by teams of the Food and Public Distribution department of the Centre that visited the region today.

“This time, the yield has dropped by at least 30 per cent,” said Harjit Singh Sheru, president of commission agents’ association at the New Grain Market here. “The yield is the lowest in the past 40 years. First, it was rain that affected growth in the winter, and now excessive heat in the first two weeks of March has prevented the grain from reaching its optimum size.”

Amandeep Singh, a resident of Kaurjiwala village, claimed the yield had dropped by 50 to 60 per cent.

Meanwhile, Patiala DFSC Gurpreet Singh Kang said central teams visited the grain markets of Patiala on Thursday and collected samples. “We expect they will permit procurement of shrivelled grains above the 6 per cent permissible limit. Things will become clear only after submission of their final report.”

He added, “the Punjab Mandi Board has made adequate arrangement of tarpaulin sheets and other material.”