Farmers turned away from wheat procurements centres: Cong MLA
Bhopal: Congress MLA Kunal Chaudhary on Sunday charged that farmers are being turned away at the wheat procurement centre on the pretext that their bank account is not linked to Aadhaar but when he goes to the bank, he is told that their account is linked to Aadhar. Wheat procurement of only those farmers whose slot was already booked is taking place, he said.
Addressing a press conference, he said that wheat which has a minimum support price (MSP) of over Rs 4,000 per quintal is being bought by the middlemen and traders for Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,800 per quintal.
He further said that the state government has also found a new way to buy wheat at a lower price than the MSP. The farmers are being asked to fill a form stating that his wheat is being bought at a price lower than the MSP because of excessive moisture and farmers are being cheated in this way also.
He further said that the state government has also not been able to put money against procurement of wheat in the account of farmers within a week as promised. He said that the farmers have received money two months after the procurement notwithstanding claims of the state government that money was transferred into their accounts through a single click.
He further said that the insurance companies involved in crop insurance schemes for the farmers are also “cheating” the farmers. In place of helping the farmers in distress, they are making money from farmers.
Since 2017 to 2021, the insurance companies concerned have earned more than R 35,000 crore from the farmers through crop insurance premiums and they are being paid a pittance as compensation during crop loss due to natural calamities.
He said that during the Congress rule, wheat was purchased from the village of the farmer itself but now they are being asked to come to the warehouse with their produce.
He further charged that the government is yet to carry out the survey to assess the loss to crops due to the recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm at several affected placs.
