Bhopal : Over 3,200 registered farmers fail to sell wheat as procurement process ends
Bhopal’s wheat procurement season ended with 3.45 million tonnes purchased from 34,110 farmers at ₹2,625/quintal. However, 878 farmers with booked slots and 2,419 registered farmers could not sell wheat, forcing many to sell in mandis at lower prices due to urgent financial needs.
wheat procurement process at support price for this season has officially concluded in Bhopal district, leaving 878 farmers unable to sell their produce despite booking slots, while another 2,419 registered farmers could not even secure their bookings. This left a significant number of farmers in a fix as delayed Government procurement dates conflicted with their immediate personal situations. Faced with pressing financial emergencies—such as impending family weddings and urgent medical expenses and unable to wait out the lengthy official procurement process, many of these registered farmers were forced to bypass the Government channels and sell their yield to local mandis at much lower prices.
According to information received from the department, wheat was purchased from farmers this year at the fixed support price of Rs 2,625 per quintal. For this, a total of 93 procurement centers were set up across the district, where farmers sold their produce. Combining all these centers, a total of 3,44,870 metric tonnes of wheat has been procured this time. Following conclusion of the wheat procurement process, the Food Department is now transporting purchased grain to store it in safe locations. Under this, 3,34,835 metric tonnes of wheat out of the total procured quantity has already been transported. This year, a total of 37,407 farmers had registered to sell wheat in the district. Out of these, a total of 34,988 farmers had booked slots to bring their produce to procurement centres. Ultimately, wheat was purchased from 34,110 registered farmers. Speaking of financial figures, total payable amount to farmers against the total quantity of wheat purchased at the centers stands at Rs 905 crore.
Out of this, an amount of Rs 816 crore has been paid directly into the bank accounts of the farmers so far. Meanwhile, a total of 140 EPO (Electronic Payment Order) orders are currently pending for digital signature, involving a total pending amount of Rs 14.38 crore. Despite completion of this procurement process, many farmers in the district have been left unable to sell their produce. According to the available data, there are 878 such farmers in the district who had booked their slots to sell wheat at the centers but could not sell their wheat. Apart from this, there are 2,419 farmers who had initially registered to sell wheat but could not book their slots at all.
According to official data, every year 10% to 12% of farmers register and many even book slots, but are unable to sell their produce. When Mahesh, a farmer from Ratibad, was spoken to regarding this matter, he said, “There was a daughter’s wedding at home and I had also booked a slot. I was waiting to sell the wheat beforehand, but the wheat procurement dates were given so late that my daughter’s wedding came very close. The Government process takes a lot of time and due to the wedding, I was in urgent need of money. In such a situation, having no other option, I was forced to sell my wheat in the mandi at a low price.” Meanwhile, Ramesh, a farmer from Barkheda Barasia, shared his grievance, saying, “My mother has a heart ailment, due to which she was admitted to a private hospital.
I urgently needed money to pay the hospital bill immediately. I had only got the registration done when my mother had to be admitted to the hospital. If I had waited to sell the wheat at the support price, it would have taken more time, hence I too was forced to sell the wheat in the mandi at a lower price.” In this regard, when ‘The Hitavada’ team contacted District Supply Controller Chandrabhan Singh Jadaun, he stated, “A lot of farmers get the registration done and also book the slots, but many times due to an urgent need for money at home, they sell the wheat in the mandi or according to their convenience.”
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Source : The Hitavada
