Rain delays wheat procurement at Ahmedgarh

Ahmedgarh/Raikot/Payal, April 23

Intermittent rain today delayed procurement and lifting of wheat at grain markets in the region falling under Ludhiana and Sangrur districts causing much inconvenience to ‘galla’ labourers, farmers and commission agents.

Shortage of ‘bardana’ (gunny bags) added to woes of all stake holders as the procurement season will now be stretched further.

While ‘galla’ labourers will now be required to put in extra labour, commission agents have been asked to arrange more tarpaulin sheets to cover heaps of wheat and stacks of filled bags lying in the open in various mandis. Stakeholders, including farmers, commission agents and labourers, remained busy in making extra arrangements to minimise the loss caused due to wetting of the produce. While commission agents were making arrangements to protect the crop dumped in their yards, labourers were busy draining stagnant water from the vicinity of the stacked produce, which was left open for drying.

The Ahmedgarh Galla Mazdoor Union president alleged that successive governments had failed to solve problems of labourers handling unprecedented situations arising at grain markets during every procurement season.

Ravinder Singh, a farmer from Lehra village, said, “When officials know that ‘bardana’ is required for filling of procured foodgrain and subsequent lifting, why don’t they make sufficient arrangements in advance?” argued Singh.

Justifying issues raised by labourers and farmers, the Mandi Ahmedgarh SDM, Vikramjit Singh Panthey, said commission agents and officials concerned had already been asked to strengthen arrangements to protect the produce in case of inclement weather.—OC