Mann to meet Union min for cure to procurement troubles

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann will meet Union minister of consumer affairs Pralhad Joshi this Monday to raise the issues of rice millers and arhtiyas (commission agents). Paddy procurement in the state has been affected adversely as millers and arhtiyas have been protesting for their demands.
Chairing a meeting to review the ongoing procurement of paddy on Saturday, Mann said demands of millers and arhtiyas were “genuine” and Centre must take a sympathetic view of it.During a telephonic conversation with the Union minister, Mann apprised Joshi of the gravity of the situation and sought time for detailed deliberations on the matter.
Mann said he will meet Joshi in Delhi on Monday.
While arhtiyas have been demanding a hike in commission, rice millers want the Centre to move grain stocks from previous seasons to create more space and review criterion for out-turn ratio for PR-126 paddy variety.
Mann also took stock of ongoing procurement and lifting of grains in mandis along with the payment being made to farmers. He asked officers to ensure every single grain of paddy is procured and lifted from mandis. He said state govt is committed to procuring and lifting every single grain of paddy.
Mann said so far, 4.3 lakh metric tonmes (LMT) paddy had arrived in mandis. He said they had made payments of Rs 573.55 crore to farmers for the same and state govt had already made elaborate arrangements for purchasing the harvest as soon as it arrives in mandis.
Farmers’ unions have decided to block roads in the state on Sunday over alleged delays in lifting of paddy from grain markets. Also, rice millers have been reluctant to accept paddy stocks, which could create problems for arhtiyas and farmers.