Farmers, procurement officials to spend Diwali night in grain markets

With everyone busy in celebrating Diwali and having a good time with their families, many farmers will have to spend their Diwali night in grain markets across the state to sell their paddy crop.

With everyone busy in celebrating Diwali and having a good time with their families, many farmers will have to spend their Diwali night in grain markets across the state to sell their paddy crop.

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The farmers, who came with a fresh stock in the past two days, will have to sit in the grain markets to look after their paddy crop which remains to be lifted by yield procurement agencies.

In view of slow lifting of paddy across the district, many officials and employees of procurement agencies may not be able to celebrate Diwali with their family members.

As per available information, about six lakh metric tonne (MT) paddy lying in grain markets, but only 5 lakh metric tonne has been procured so far.

However, when it comes to lifting, only 3.50 lakh MTof paddy has been lifted so far by procuring agencies.

Meanwhile, the payments before Diwali came as a boon for the farmers, who had been waiting for their payments since the start of procurement season from October 1 onwards.

Out of the total payments of Rs 600 crore, `450 crore has already paid to farmers.

However, in view of Diwali, the arrivals have come down compared to those during normal days. However, procurement agencies ensured that the crop, which has arrived in the market, will be purchased and farmers will be paid payments as soon as possible.

“Sanu tan adat pe gyi ae Diwali-Bisakhi mandi vich manaun di (We are used to celebrate Diwali-Bisakhi festivals in grain markets),” said Baljit Singh, a farmer at the grain market here.

He said that once he received the payment for his produce, his Diwali celebrations would be complete, adding that he brought his produce to the market on Monday.

District food and supplies controller Ajayvir Singh Sarao said the procurement season is going on at a slow speed due to rainfall earlier this month, but it helped them in a way as there was no glut-like situation.

“We are following the norms to lift the purchased paddy within 72 hours of the purchase. Moreover, we are hopeful that the procurement will again pick up after Diwali,” he said.