Agencies advised to expedite purchase

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 29

Office-bearers of various market committees, led by Fatehgarh Sahib MP Amar Singh Boparai and MLA Surjit Singh Dhiman, have called upon paddy growers not to fear about realisation of value of their paddy as officials in various procurement agencies had been advised to undertake proactive measures in view of the apprehended glut of the produce in coming weeks.

While interacting with Dr Boparai and Dhiman during their visit to Chaunda, Manvi, Bhurthala, Lasoyee, Khapur, Kup Kalan, Begowal, Kanganwal and Baurhai, besides Ahmedgarh and Amargarh grain markets, farmers of the region had urged them to impress upon officials of various procurement agencies to expedite the process of procurement through commission agents and undertake prompt lifting of the purchased paddy.

Dr Boparai said he had advised office-bearers and activists of various wings of the Congress, led by Amargarh legislator Surjit Singh Dhiman, Ahmedgarh Market Committee chairman Baljiinder Singh Baurhai, Prabhdeep Singh Narangwal and Teji Kamalpuri, to keep a close watch over the functioning of grain markets so that farmers should not face any problem in procurement and lifting of their produce.

“Though procurement and lifting had been going on smoothly at almost all purchase centres so far, coming days and weeks may be stressful for all, including farmers and commission agents, as we are expecting a glut of paddy in mandis,” said Boparai, adding that officials concerned had been advised to take measures to handle the situation.

Identifying scarcity of gunny bags, inadequate number of trucks and lack of coordination among groups of labourers as major impediments in the smooth procurement and lifting process during the past years, Ahmedgarh SDM Vikramjit Singh Panthey said the officials concerned in all agencies had been advised to ensure that farmers were not harassed on any pretext.