Paddy lifting yet to start, Jalandhar farmers spend nights in mandis guarding produce

Gurvinder Singh, a farmer from Gakhal village, sits right in front of the paddy produce that he has brought to the main grain market here. He spent the night in the mandi, guarding and looking after the produce. “We cannot leave our produce unattended. Last night, it rained heavily and I covered the crop with a tarpaulin, still it got wet,” he said.

Like him, a number of farmers are spending nights in the mandi, keeping a watch on their produce. At present, no activity, except cleaning of grains and making heaps, is being performed in the mandi.

Gurnam Singh (72), a farmer from Dhanowali village, said Sunday was his third day in the mandi. “I have been into farming since long, but it is for the first time that the farmers have to stay put in the mandi to look after their produce,” he said.

Kashmiri Lal, president of the Jalandhar Arhtiya Association, said the strike would continue till October 7. “It may end after that. Cleaning of paddy is underway, but the grains are not being put into sacks,” he added.

Since there is still an uncertainty whether their produce will be lifted or not, many farmers have been avoiding harvesting the standing matured crop.

“I have harvested the crop on four acres and have come here, while the crop on 12 acres is yet to be harvested. Amid this confusing situation, we do not know what to do. The crop here has not been lifted yet, and the fully matured crop in our fields will also get damaged if we don’t cut it now,” said Subeg Singh, a farmer from Dhogri village.