Farmers staged protests in parts of Punjab on Monday demanding relaxation in moisture content limit of harvested paddy in the ongoing procurement season.

Also, annoyed over the tardy lifting of paddy from the grain markets, the farmers have urged the State government to speed up the lifting process.

Members of as many as seven farmer unions, including Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and Kirti Kisan Union, blocked roads in Bathinda and neighbouring areas in support of their demands.

“This year we were asked by the State government to delay paddy sowing. Later, unexpected rain in the last week of September led to further delay in harvesting. Following the rain, the moisture content in the harvested crop increased and the government needs to relax this limit,” said BKU (Krantikari) president Surjit Singh.

Mr. Singh said government agencies were procuring paddy with up to 17% moisture content, which the farmers are demanding be increased to at least 22%.

‘Glut in market’

“As there is high moisture content in paddy, government agencies are not purchasing such crop. This has resulted in a glut in the grain markets. The government needs to urgently relax the moisture content limit to at least 22% and speed up lifting of the produce from the markets,” said Mr. Singh.