Farmers without Net access in a spot as govt begins wheat procurement

TNN | Apr 24, 2020, 07:24 IST

Gurgaon: Though the state government has assured the farmers of Haryana that each and every grain will be purchased, the procurement of rabi (winter) crops, particularly wheat and mustard, in several districts is marred with challenges like exclusion of those lacking access to the internet/smartphones, lack of transportation and lack of storage spaces.
The situation is dire for small, marginal and tenant farmers in containment and red zones like Mewat. While large-scale farmers are availing the benefit of contacting buyers and traders online, small-time farmers say they are left in the lurch due to their digital illiteracy, overseeing massive losses.
Add to this, the strike and opposition to cheque payment to the farmers by the Arhtiyas (commission agents) have decelerated the procurement process.
Many farmers claim they have been resorting to distress selling of their crops, registering Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 losses per quintal, which is much below the minimum selling price (MSP). “In my village, not more than 10% have been registered due to the cumbersome registration process. Now, the unregistered farmers have been resorting to distress selling. Many have been selling it to traders for Rs 3,000-Rs 3,500 per quintal, while the MSP fixed by government is Rs 4,425 per quintal,” said Rafiq Azad, a local farmer leader.
Besides this, farmers have complained that there have been cases where there was variation in weighing of their produce at their local stores and that at the mandis. Moreover, for the mustard crop, the government has fixed 7.5-8% moisture as the permissible limit for procurement. “While poor farmers were sent back if the moisture was above the limit, there were cases where even after 11.5% of moisture the crop was procured. We opposed this and took the matters to the officials. After much protest ,they finally agreed to take crops with 9.5% to 10% moisture,” said Mohammed Haji Ali of Kheda village.
Adding to the miseries of the farmers, the transportation challenges, limited gate passes, and strikes by the Arhtiyas have further made procurement process anything but smooth, contrary to the claims of the administrations of several districts. “Even though Mewat has increased procurement centres from April 21, farmers are struggling with transportation and other logistic issues like passes. The tardy process may continue for several weeks and this will impact the sowing cycle of next crops,” argued Dharambir Singh of All India Kisan Sabha.
Meanwhile, Mewat administration has claimed that from three anaj mandis and 10 procurement centres set up for wheat procurement in the district, about 28,040 quintals of wheat has been procured from 206 farmers. Similarly, about 3,867 metric tonnes of mustard have been procured.
Responding on the increasing complaints about the procurement and mismanagement at the centres, a district administration official told TOI, “Senior officials have inspected the centres. Also, as per the recent orders from the government, a grievance redressal committee has been constituted in each mandi of the district. A member of the said committee will be present in the market during the daily purchase.”