Ensure speedy lifting of crop, Dalal tells officials

Tribune News Service

Hisar, April 17

The procurement of wheat has come to a halt because of glut in grain markets, tardy lifting of the procured produce, shortage of gunny bags and intermittent showers at several places in the state.

Agriculture Minister JP Dalal, who visited the grain market at Bahal in Bhiwani district, today urged farmers not to bring wheat to mandis on Saturday and Sunday. He, however, directed officials to ensure speedy lifting of the produce.

“The produce is moist because of the showers. Once it dries up, it will be lifted,” said the minister.

Farmers, however, said agencies had suspended the procurement, exposing the lack of arrangements. “The next harvesting season is going to be busy for us. So we want that the agencies lift the produce as soon as possible,” of the farmers said.

Sube Singh, a farmer activist, said: “Farmers need to prepare their fields for the kharif season. They cannot wait for days for their crop to be purchased. The laxity on the part of authorities is resulting in inconvenience to farmers.”

Bajrang Dass Garg, pradhan of the Haryana Pradesh Vyapar Mandal, said: “The procurement process has exposed that the authorities were not prepared for it. It seems that some government officials and contractors are deliberately delaying the lifting of the produce.”

The minister told the media in Bhiwani government agencies had so far purchased 40 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, while payment had been made for 25 lakh metric tonnes.