Delay in procurement of paddy at Nalagarh resented

Solan, October 13

Farmers of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial (BBN) belt yesterday resented the delay in the procurement of paddy by the FCI at the Nalagarh Anaj Mandi.

Sanyukt Kisan Morcha activists led by Surmukh Singh held a rally at Nalagarh and met the SDM. The farmers rued that their crop had started blackening due to the delay in procurement, which should begin immediately.

The protesters alleged that no one was ready to procure their crop at the Nalagarh Anaj Mandi though they were earlier assured of procurement from October 1.

Narendra Dhiman, District Controller, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, said, “The FCI will begin paddy procurement from October 15 and registration on the e-portal has already started. The issue was taken up with the FCI to ensure paddy procurement from October 15 and avert unrest among farmers”.

It is for the first time that the FCI has set up a centre at Nalagarh to procure 10,000 metric tonnes of paddy. The FCI is also making necessary arrangements like issuing tenders for labour and requisite material to facilitate procurement.

Agriculture Department officials said that as the monsoon season had prolonged, the paddy contained moisture, resulting in delay in procurement by two weeks.—TNS