Moong, maize being sold below MSP; SKM to hold protest
BATHINDA: As moong (green gram) and maize crops continue to be sold at much below the minimum sport price (MSP), the Punjab chapter of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) ) has decided to hold a protest in Mohali on June 27.
Taking serious note of the distress sale, the SKM said the Punjab government had announced to procure moong at the MSP while the central agencies had to procure maize at the MSP.
The MSP for maize is Rs 1,962 per quintal, but there is a big variation in the purchasing price as it is only fetching Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,800 per quintal. The MSP for moong is Rs 7,755 per quintal, but it is getting up to Rs 6,000 per quintal, claimed the SKM.
Most of the moong crop coming to the grain markets in Punjab is being sold below the MSP, like the previous year when over 85% crop was sold below the MSP and state government had to pay a compensation of Rs 42 crore as shortfall in selling price.
With a negligible government purchase so far, the private players are purchasing both the crops at prices below the MSP. Till June 23, over 60% of the total expected production of moong crop arrived in mandis out of which nearly 83% has been sold below the MSP, added the farmer organisation.
The moong crop was cultivated in 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) and nearly 2.30 lakh quintal yield is expected – over 4.5 quintal per acre.
Till June 23, 1,44,594 quintal crop arrived in the mandis and the entire crop has been purchased. Out of this, the Punjab state cooperative supply and marketing federation limited (MARKFED) – the nodal agency to make purchases for the state government – has procured only 1,820 quintals while 1,42,974 quintal has been purchased by the private players; 1,20,109 quintal (83%) has been sold below the MSP, claimed the SKM.
The private players are citing low quality for offering lower prices, the SKM added.
The moong procurement season starts from June 1. The farmers generally sell the crop by late July to go in for the basmati or short variety of non-basmati after the harvesting of moong.
Meanwhile, 17.51 lakh quintal maize crop has arrived in the state mandis and the entire crop has been purchased by private players. Most of the purchases made by private traders are below the MSP of Rs 1,962 per quintal.
SKM leaderDarshan Pal said leaders from 33 farmer organisations on Friday held an online meeting and decided to assemble at Mohali on June 27 and then move towards Chandigarh. The SKM wants all the crops to be purchased at the MSP, he said.
Two days ago, Markfed chairman Amandeep Singh Mohie had admitted that the private traders were purchasing at a rate lower than the MSP. Mohie said the state government had started purchases on June 19 and in the coming days they would speed up the procurement and the farmers would get the remunerative prices for their crop.
