CHANDIGARH: As Punjab gets ready for wheat procurement beginning April 15 amid the coronavirus pandemic, a major challenge for the state government will be providing adequate number of farm labourers and gunny bags for both farmers and arhtiyas (commission agents).
Farmers rely heavily on mechanised harvesting, but will need labourers for the post-harvest exercise. Besides, shortage of bardana (gunny bags) is something that farmers faced during the last wheat harvest as well. Even though Punjab had tried to make advance arrangements for gunny bags for state procurement agencies by getting in touch with jute mills in West Bengal in January, these units have been closed due to lockdown. Punjab needs over 5 lakh bales (1 bale=170kg) for the current harvest.
Besides, finding a way to avoid large gatherings in grain markets during the weighing and loading of wheat while ensuring social distancing to avoid the spread of coronavirus will be an uphill task.
Punjab food supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu told TOI that since the state government had decided to go in for staggered procurement, finding adequate number of labourers should not be a problem. "We also plan to bring in MGNREGA workers at the local level to fill in for labourers who may have moved out. To make up for any shortfall of jute bags, the state has already ordered polypropylene (PP) bags for wheat," he said.
Meanwhile, secretary (agriculture) K S Pannu said, "While the industrial units have labour that is employed by them, farm labourers are pressed into action only during the time of harvest season. Adequate number of combines will be available."
However, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), suggested that instead of asking farmers to bring their produce to local grain markets, the state government should devise a system to collect the wheat produce from the doorstep of farmers by allowing them to store it.
"The state government should allow coordination committees of panchayats and arhtiyas for the procurement process. If MGNREGA workers collect wheat from the doorstep of farmers, it will ensure that there are no crowds. Besides, this way local workers will also get employment," added Amarjit Singh, a farmer from Sangrur.
"The Centre has already allowed movement of combine harvesters and their spare parts are also available. The state government has made adequate arrangements for PP bags and I'm sure the wheat harvest will be conducted smoothly," added Ashu. To rule out overcrowding, the state government plans to work out ways to procure wheat grain from villages that are located a couple of kilometers from grain markets in the state.
Farmers rely heavily on mechanised harvesting, but will need labourers for the post-harvest exercise. Besides, shortage of bardana (gunny bags) is something that farmers faced during the last wheat harvest as well. Even though Punjab had tried to make advance arrangements for gunny bags for state procurement agencies by getting in touch with jute mills in West Bengal in January, these units have been closed due to lockdown. Punjab needs over 5 lakh bales (1 bale=170kg) for the current harvest.
Besides, finding a way to avoid large gatherings in grain markets during the weighing and loading of wheat while ensuring social distancing to avoid the spread of coronavirus will be an uphill task.
Punjab food supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu told TOI that since the state government had decided to go in for staggered procurement, finding adequate number of labourers should not be a problem. "We also plan to bring in MGNREGA workers at the local level to fill in for labourers who may have moved out. To make up for any shortfall of jute bags, the state has already ordered polypropylene (PP) bags for wheat," he said.
Meanwhile, secretary (agriculture) K S Pannu said, "While the industrial units have labour that is employed by them, farm labourers are pressed into action only during the time of harvest season. Adequate number of combines will be available."
However, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), suggested that instead of asking farmers to bring their produce to local grain markets, the state government should devise a system to collect the wheat produce from the doorstep of farmers by allowing them to store it.
"The state government should allow coordination committees of panchayats and arhtiyas for the procurement process. If MGNREGA workers collect wheat from the doorstep of farmers, it will ensure that there are no crowds. Besides, this way local workers will also get employment," added Amarjit Singh, a farmer from Sangrur.
"The Centre has already allowed movement of combine harvesters and their spare parts are also available. The state government has made adequate arrangements for PP bags and I'm sure the wheat harvest will be conducted smoothly," added Ashu. To rule out overcrowding, the state government plans to work out ways to procure wheat grain from villages that are located a couple of kilometers from grain markets in the state.
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