Hapless farmers sell paddy ‘below MSP’
Several farmers in Sultanpur Lodhi claimed to have sold their paddy produce below the minimum support price (MSP) to private traders due to non-procurement of the produce and lifting by government agencies.
Kulwant Singh of Swal village in Sultanpur Lodhi, said, “I couldn’t sell my produce on the MSP of Rs 2,320 per quintal. In fact, I was forced to sell it well below the MSP.”
Farmers alleged that they were asked to sell their produce between Rs 2,050 and Rs 2,150. As most farmers in this area grow vegetables, they have a short window period to harvest, sell and prepare their land for sowing the next crop. Thus, they are forced to sell their produce below the MSP to buy seeds and pesticides.
Farmers claimed that they were issued “kacchi parchi” instead of J-Form. “Though we get the payment in our account, everything else is done by arhtiyas. If we receive extra payment, we return it in cash to the commission agents,” said Kulwant.
Surjit Singh, 67, from Swal village said he had not seen such a situation in his entire life. “It is like we are getting rid of the paddy, which we had grown with much love.”
Sarabjit Singh of Mehrajwala in Jalandhar said he sold his produce for Rs 2,050 per quintal. “Where else would I have kept it. We are helpless right now,” he said.
Sultanpur Lodhi SDM Aparna said the farmers had raised this issue with her as well. She said she had asked the District Mandi Officer to carry out inspections.
“We have told the farmers that strict action will be taken against those involved in such malpractices if any such discrepancy is found. Everything is being examined. So far, I have not found any inconsistency,” the SDM added.
Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh has written to Vikas Garg, Principal Secretary, Department Food and Supplies, in this regard. He said millers in connivance with unscrupulous elements were exploiting the present situation and procuring paddy at Rs 2,100 per quintal. He claimed that paddy procured at lower price would be sold to the government at the MSP by traders and the farmers would lose Rs 5,000 crore.
