Punjab seeks relaxation of wheat procurement norms, 4 Central teams in state to assess damage
WITH Punjab seeking relaxation in specifications of norms for procurement of wheat, four Central teams have already collected samples to assess damage to the wheat crop during recent untimely rains and hailstorm.
The state government has already reported damaged grains and lustre loss in wheat after the rains and winds.
The teams visited five districts including Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, and Mohali and collected 54 samples. The teams collected 15 samples from Mohali, 10 from Patiala, 20 from Sangrur, 8 from Ludhiana and one from Ferozepur. “The teams arrived yesterday and visited these districts in two days. They are back in Chandigarh on Friday evening. They will go back to Delhi on Saturday and then send a report. After that the Centre will decide on the specifications,” said an official of the Punjab government.
The teams visited Mandis including Khanna, the Asia’s largest grain market, Banur, Dera Bassi, Lalru, Rajpura, Khanouri, Moonak, Sunam, Macchiwara and Mamdot. The farmers have been complaining of damage to the crop. The state government has already announced compensation for the farmers. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said several times that that the farmers would get cheques before Baisakhi.
Two days ago, Punjab Food Secretary, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh had written a letter to the Centre seeking relaxations in specifications of norms. In his letter to Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Distribution, Singh said, “On the basis of the initial sampling of the grains, I would request to relax the uniform specifications to allow upto 6% damaged grain, upto 12% slightly damaged grains, upto 15% broken grains and upto 100% lustre loss.”
The letter stated, “Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds have lashed the entire State of Punjab in the recent days leading to flattening of the crop and inundation of the fields. This has the potential to adversely affect the yield and the quality of the standing wheat crop. The state government has already initiated the process to assess the crop loss and the final figures are expected to be received shortly.”
He added, “A major fallout of these unseasonal rains is increase in damage/ discoloration/breakageof grains, which is already being witnessed in the meager arrivals of wheat in some Mandis in the state.”
The grain is also showing high percentage of luster loss and as such it shall not be possible to purchase the grain without relaxation in the specifications mandated by DFPD for purchase of wheat.
Adverse weather conditions are beyond the control of the farmer and any natural
change in the texture of the grain deserves to be sympathetically considered. In the past, DFPD has been protecting the interests of the farmers by allowing suitable relaxations in specifications of foodgrains. Last year, relaxations were allowed without value cut, effective from the notified date of start of procurement, after sympathetically appreciating the inability of the State to halt procurement, as it would have led to huge farmer unrest.
It added, “The farmer, already reeling under farm debt, has suffered heavily on account of heavy losses in crop yield and further imposition of any value out on the surviving crop shall prove to be a massive blow and highly detrimental to his interests. It is, therefore, requested that the above relaxations may be allowed without value cut and applicable from 1 April, 2023 since the state shall not be able to halt the procurement of wheat without facing huge farmer unrest.”
