Rohtak arhtiyas on strike, wheat purchase hit

Rohtak, April 21

No wheat was purchased through arhtiyas (commission agents) at the Rohtak grain market for the second day today as they continued their protest against the e-procurement system, though Hafed procured 700 quintals of wheat directly from farmers.

The Haryana Warehousing Corporation also purchased 439 metric tonnes of wheat at the Sampla grain market and 76 MT at the Meham grain market.

“The conditions imposed by the Haryana Government under its e-procurement regime are inconvenient for farmers as well as arhtiyas. We will remain on strike until the manual system of purchase is restored,” said Dimple Budhwar, president, Rohtak Anaj Mandi Arhtiyas Association. He said there were nearly 90,000 farmers in Rohtak, but only 24,000 had got registered online.

Rohtak market committee secretary Deepak Lohchab said the district administration had been apprised of the arthiyas’ demand. — TNS