Punjab: Maize procurement comes to a halt in Tarn Taran, farmers left waiting as dispute drags on
Maize procurement in Tarn Taran has remained suspended for three days due to a dispute between buyers and commission agents over commissions, leaving farmers unable to sell produce. Maize is trading at ₹1,500–2,000/quintal, well below the MSP of ₹2,410/quintal, increasing farmer distress.
Tarn Taran: Farmers bringing maize to the grain market in Tarn Taran are facing growing difficulties as procurement has remained suspended for the past three days due to a dispute between buyers and commission agents (aarhtiyas) over commission charges.
The deadlock has resulted in large quantities of maize remaining unsold in the mandi, leaving farmers unable to market their produce and secure better prices for their crop, The Tribune reported.
Mandi Supervisor Amarinder Singh said maize arrivals have continued over the last four days, but procurement activities have come to a complete standstill because of the ongoing disagreement between buyers and commission agents.
“Maize is arriving regularly in the mandi, but purchases have not taken place for the last three days due to the dispute. We expect the issue to be resolved soon,” he said.
Among those affected are farmers Dilbag Singh of Kang village and Dalbag Singh of Deo village, who said they had brought properly dried maize to the market expecting fair returns but were left stranded as procurement operations remained suspended.
The farmers said they had already spent money on harvesting and drying the crop and were now facing uncertainty as their produce remained unsold.
The situation has also drawn attention to the gap between the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the actual market rates. While the Centre has fixed the MSP for maize at Rs 2,410 per quintal, a rate supported by the Punjab Government, farmers alleged that no producer has received the MSP so far this season.
According to the Mandi Supervisor, maize has been traded in the market at rates ranging between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 per quintal, considerably lower than the MSP.
Farmers accused both buyers and commission agents of focusing on their own interests while neglecting the problems faced by cultivators. They also criticised the authorities for not taking timely action to resolve the dispute.
Responding to these concerns, Amarinder Singh said some of the maize arriving in the mandi contained moisture levels above the prescribed standards. However, he expressed optimism that farmers bringing adequately dried produce in the coming days could receive improved prices.
Meanwhile, farmers have urged the authorities to intervene immediately, settle the dispute and restart procurement operations so that they can sell their maize without further delay and obtain fair returns for their produce.
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Source : ChiniMandi
