Rain accompanied by strong winds in many parts of the city on Thursday affected procurement and lifting of wheat in grain markets in the area, adding to the anxiety of farmers who are already facing alleged harassment at the hands of administration and purchasing agencies.
The district administration also failed to fulfill its promise of ensuring proper covers for foodgrains, due to which heaps of wheat lying in markets got wet.
Farmers rued that due to lack of proper arrangements in the grain markets, wheat crop was losing its sheen and moisture content was also increasing in grains, which ultimately would fetch lower prices for their produce.
It is pertinent to mention that thousands of quintals of wheat is lying in the open in the new grain market, Sampla grain market, Sanghi village, and at several others places.
Farmer Dariya Singh of village Rithal told Hindustan Times that he had brought around 100 quintals of wheat on Thursday's morning in the grain market, which got wet due to rain.
Farmer Mehar Singh, who had brought his produce to Sanghi grain market, said rain had affected the heaps of wheat lying in the open for the past few days.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that most of the standing crop was dampened at villages like Basantpur, Brahmanwas, Dhamar, Kahni, Jassia, Khidwali, Jindran, Ghuskani, Katwara, Sisroli due to Thursday's rain.
Farmer Maha Singh of Basantpur village said his harvested crop had got wet as it was kept in the open in Sanghi grain market on Thursday. He alleged that there was acute shortage of gunny bags and plastic sheets in the grain market. Now, it would take a few days to dry the produce.
District food and supply controller Jaipal Singh admitted that rain would affect wheat crop lying in the open.
The commission agents were also responsible for saving wheat grains from rain as they get around 2.5% commission from the government per quintal of procured wheat, he pointed out.
He said that Thursday's rain would not do much damage to foodgrains, adding that if it continued for another day, it would definitely damage standing crop.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that most of the standing crop was dampened at villages like Basantpur, Brahmanwas, Dhamar, Kahni, Jassia, Khidwali, Jindran, Ghuskani, Katwara, Sisroli due to Thursday's rain.
Farmer Maha Singh of Basantpur village said his harvested crop had got wet as it was kept in the open in Sanghi grain market on Thursday. He alleged that there was acute shortage of gunny bags and plastic sheets in the grain market. Now, it would take a few days to dry the produce.
District food and supply controller Jaipal Singh admitted that rain would affect wheat crop lying in the open.
The commission agents were also responsible for saving wheat grains from rain as they get around 2.5% commission from the government per quintal of procured wheat, he pointed out.
He said that Thursday's rain would not do much damage to foodgrains, adding that if it continued for another day, it would definitely damage standing crop.