Paddy procurement delay: Farmers close market committee offices in Karnal, Kaithal

Tribune News Service

Karnal, October 1

Infuriated over the postponing of the paddy procurement date from October 1 to October 11, farmers protested in Karnal and Kaithal grain markets today. They even closed the doors of the market committee offices and staged a dharna there.

A large number of farmers came with their paddy crop in Karnal grain markets, but were asked to wait till October 11, leading to resentment among them. The farmers also announced to protest outside the CM camp office on Saturday against this order.

Farmers fear any weather change might damage the crop in the fields. “Earlier, the government had assured to start paddy procurement of PR varieties from September 25 and later from October 1, but now when we came here with our grains, the government has announced to purchase it from October 11, which is a gimmick with us,” said Shiv Kumar, a farmer who had come to the grain market with paddy.

Fear of rain

Rain is expected in coming days also, so I got my paddy harvested yesterday, but when I came here, I was asked to wait for at least 10 days. The government should start the procurement with immediate effect. —Rinku, A farmer

“Rain is expected in coming days also, so I got my paddy harvested yesterday, but when I came here, I was asked to wait for at least 10 days. The government should start the procurement with immediate effect,” said Rinku, another farmer.

Meanwhile, the BKU announced to continue dharna outside the market committee in Karnal. “The postponing of the paddy procurement is a plan of the government to force the farmers to sell the crop to private players at throwaway prices. Fearing this trend in coming days, the farmers have been staging dharnas on Delhi borders as the government wants to eliminate the mandi system and also to promote private players,” said Jagdeep Singh Aulakh, member, state core committee (BKU) (Charuni), who led the protest outside the market committee office.

The Karnal Arhtiyas Association also extended support to the farmers and joined the dharna. “A large number of farmers have already reached grain markets in the district to sell their crops. Till October 11, around 70 per cent of paddy is harvested. The government should start procurement with immediate effect,” said Rajnish Chaudhary, president, Karnal Arhtiyas Association.

Labourers on strike

Labourers of all grain markets went on strike against the deduction of the labour rate. They refused to unload the trollies of the farmers along with cleaning and threshing. “We will continue our strike till the revoking of the government order of reducing labour rates from Rs12.72 to Rs8.52 per bag. We demand labour rate at Rs15 per bag,” said a labourer.