Officials locked up in Karnal mandi

Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 28

Farmers and commission agents locked officials inside the Karnal market committee office on Monday against the non-procurement of paddy and non-availability of gunny bags. The office was opened after an hour.

Farmer Ramesh Lal said, “Officially, the procurement began on Sunday. The reality, however, is different.”

Meanwhile, the arhtiyas’ association announced the boycott of the paddy procurement process.

“Procured paddy has not been lifted and arhtiyas have not received gunny bags for the produce procured on Sunday. Hence, arhtiyas have decided not to be part of the procurement process. We will not get PR paddy registered on behalf of farmers,” said Rajnish Chaudhary, president of the Karnal arhtiyas’ association.

Chaudhary said it was yet to be decided who would procure paddy as rice millers did not get themselves registered on the portal.

Sunder Singh Kamboj, secretary, market committee, said the produce was not procured on Monday because of high moisture content. “Moisture up to 17 per cent is permissible. But the produce brought by farmers has moisture content up to 30 per cent. This is the reason procurement agencies have not procured paddy,” he said.

From Tuesday, he added, a schedule would be issued and farmers, who had got themselves registered on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal, would be called to the mandi.