Farm unions seek relaxation in moisture content in paddy, relief for losses

Ahmedgarh, October 25

Organisations fighting for repeal of the three contentious farm laws under the Samyukat Kisan Morcha have sought relaxation in the moisture norms for purchase of paddy during the ensuing season and demanded a fair compensation for damages caused due to the recent downpour to paddy crop in fields.

Farmers, led by leaders of their outfits, have apprehended that sowing of next crops will also be delayed in case procurement agencies insisted on a present norms of moisture.

The farmers alleged that the government was bent upon adopting tactics to end the MSP by further delaying procurement on the pretext of higher moisture content, which was caused due to factors beyond control of paddy cultivators. They demanded that the Centre should grant fair compensation from the national disaster relief fund to farmers whose crops had been damaged due to recent rains.

Bharti Kisan Union (Kadian) president Harmeet Singh Kadian regretted that the government had failed to comprehend that agriculture had never been a remunerative vocation and its sustenance depended on various factors, including weather. Challenging the government’s decision to fix 17 per cent moisture content of the paddy as standard for procurement, he said: “Now, when rains and hailstorm have caused massive damage to the paddy crop when farmers had delayed harvesting due to adamancy of procurement agencies, the government should seek expert opinion whether it was possible for farmers to further delay the process.”

Urging the government to allow procurement of paddy with 24 per cent moisture, Kadian demanded Rs 40,000 per acre compensation for farmers whose paddy crop was damaged completely due to recent rains. — OC