Govt yet to begin mustard purchase in Hisar, Bhiwani

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Bhiwani, April 2

Despite the government’s assurance, the official agencies have not procured even a grain of mustard in Bhiwani and Hisar districts. As a result, arthiyas and other private buyers have been purchasing mustard below the MSP fixed by the government. The absence of government agencies have left the farmers at the mercy of traders.

The farmers alleged that arthiyas were evading the market fee and the tax on the purchase as officials of the market committee looked the other way. Shailesh Varma, Bhiwani marketing enforcement officer, however, denied any complaint of tax evasion, claiming that officials were recording the arrival and procurement of mustard in all markets in the district.

The farmers today threatened to lock the grain market in Charki Dadri town, alleging that the government did not care for the farmers who are at the receiving end at the hands of traders in the markets. The SDM, Bijender Hooda, reached the spot and placated the farmers, assuring them that procurement would start soon. The farmers served an ultimatum on the government to start procurement within two days or they would lock the grain market.

A progressive woman farmer of Bhiwani, Anita Devi, said she had sold 11.73 quintals of mustard to an arthiya at Rs 3,581 per quintal against the MSP of Rs 3,700.

Wheat arrival: Pvt parties buy entire stock 

Ambala: Nearly 265 quintals of wheat arrived in the Ambala city grain market on the first day of the start of the procurement season yesterday and private buyers procured the entire stock. Kavita Narwal, Market Secretary, Ambala City,  said, “The wheat arrival has started and private parties purchased the stock on Saturday.” The Ambala city grain market had received over 8.47 lakh quintals of wheat last year. On the other hand, nearly 10 quintals of crop arrived at the Ambala cantonment grain market on Friday evening. Krishan Kumar Malik, Market Secretary, cantonment grain market, said: “The season will be in full swing within next 3 to 4 days. We are expecting the arrival to be around 1 lakh quintals this year. It is a new market on the highway and we are expecting farmers from Kurukshetra also to reach here.”Last year, 24,847 quintals of wheat had arrived at the grain market due to shortage of space. Nearly 87,000 hectares are under wheat cultivation in the district this year.