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Haryana farmers allege scam in procurement, say paddy being bought below MSP
Even as the Haryana government has issued specific guidelines for paddy procurement in state mandis, farmers allege they are falling victim to the alleged nexus between private buyers, state marketing board officials and commission agents.
Even as the Haryana government has issued specific guidelines for paddy procurement in state mandis, farmers allege they are falling victim to the alleged nexus between private buyers, state marketing board officials and commission agents.
As per government guidelines, paddy with maximum moisture content will be purchased with a maximum deduction of Rs 75.50 in the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,510 per quintal.
Farmers said private buyers with the help of the state marketing board officials are making larger deductions citing high moisture content.
The farmers say they are being forced to sell their produce as low as Rs 1,250-Rs 1,300 per quintal.
“I had to sell my produce at Rs 1,270 per quintal as they said that the moisture was much higher than required 17-22%,” said Desh Raj, a farmer from the district. The farmers said commission agents are helping private buyers have their way in finalising prices, citing one thing or the other.
There is scarcity of space in mandis due to slow lifting of the produce, they said.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) state president Gurnam Singh Chanduni said, “There is a nexus between private buyers, government employees and commission agents, who are looting the farmers citing high moisture content.”
“On Monday, we held a protest in Yamunanagar after some farmers complained that buyers are purchasing their produce at low prices citing high moisture, even without examining the paddy,” he said.
“The government should make it mandatory to measure moisture of produce of every farmer. The moisture content should be mentioned on the produce where it is kept, the marketing committee register and in the J-form to end this fraud,” he said.
Many farmers are misled by the buyers since they are not aware that they can get the moisture level of their produce examined.
Irregularities in procurement came to the fore during a surprise visit of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s officer on special duty (OSD) Amrinder Singh to the Karnal grain market.He found buyers purchasing paddy at Rs 1,460 per quintal even without examining the moisture content.
Farmers said the buyers mention the MSP in the J-form and they cannot raise the issue since they have borrowed money from commission agents.
“I sold my produce at Rs 1,440 per quintal but in the J-form they mentioned Rs 1510,” said Mohan Lal, a farmer.
