Slow wheat lifting worries Muktsar farmers amid changing weather
Despite procurement beginning April 1, farmers in Punjab’s Muktsar district are anxious as wheat lifting remains slow. Of 1.21 lakh MT wheat arrived, over 87,000 MT remains unlifted. Cloudy skies raise fears of rain damage. Farmers demand faster lifting and better storage, while officials assure improvements. Two unauthorized yards were also penalized for irregularities in Gidderbaha.
Even though the procurement season began on April 1, farmers in Muktsar district are worried as the lifting of the freshly harvested wheat crop is moving slowly.
Adding to their worries is the changing weather, the sky has turned cloudy over the past two days, raising fears of untimely rain that could damage the grain lying exposed in the markets.
As per the official data till Friday evening, a total of 1,21,573 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat has arrived in the grain markets across the district so far.
Of this, 1,01,846 MT has been purchased, but only 14,131 MT has been lifted. This leaves a staggering 87,715 MT of wheat still lying unlifted in the mandis.
At the Gidderbaha grain market, a 90-year-old farmer Baltej Singh expressed deep concern over the delay.
“I have seen many seasons, but it’s always painful to watch our produce lying in the open, vulnerable to weather. There are hardly any arrangements to protect the produce from the rain. Gunny bags are also being supplied late,” said Baltej Singh.
Meanwhile, two unauthorised grain yards were found operating in Gidderbaha and two commission agents managing these yards have been fined Rs 1.7 lakh by the authorities.
A senior official from the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board, however, claimed that “things are in place” and that the lifting process will speed up soon. But the visible gap between procurement and lifting tells a different story, calling for urgent action.
Meanwhile, the farmers urged the state government to ensure faster lifting and better storage arrangements to protect their produce and avoid potential losses due to adverse weather.
Hardeep Singh Bhangal, chairman, Gidderbaha Market Committee, who last night visited the grain market to take stock of the preparedness, said, “We have made all arrangements here. Our entire staff is here for the farmers.”
Sukhwinder Singh Gill, District Food and Civil Supplies Controller (DFCSC), Muktsar, said, “Most of the procurement is done in the last two days, and we have to lift the stock within 72 hours. The entire system is in place. We are hopeful of a good quantity of wheat being lifted from the mandis today.”
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Source : The Tribune
