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Delay would hamper sowing for rabi season. It will result in borrowing cash which can solely add to our woes, they are saying
Amid the COVID-19 scare, 44-year outdated Gurpreet Singh from Tole Majra village together with his paddy-laden tractor-trolley arrived at Kharar’s grain market in Punjab on a sunny day on Saturday — he appears content material with the procurement preparations on the ‘mandi’ (market yard). However, he, as many different farmers, is anxious about “timely payment” of produce bought by authorities companies.
“I brought 40 quintal paddy in the morning to the mandi here and by afternoon my produce was sold. I didn’t have to wait for long..everything was seamless. There’s no space crunch in the mandi nor labour shortage. However, my main concern is about receiving the payment. My ‘arthiya’ [commission agent] told me that I’ll get the payment at least 12-15 days later because the process of payments has not yet started from the government’s end,” mentioned Mr. Gurpreet.
“I’ll get around ₹75,500 for the paddy that I had sold. But if I’ll get the payment after 15 days then it will create difficulties for me. I need to prepare my field for sowing of wheat for which I need money immediately. If my payment is delayed how will I plant my next crop? The government should make the payment within 3-4 days at the most after the crop is sold,” he mentioned.
Mr. Gurpreet’s fee agent, who requested anonymity, mentioned: “Till October 10, at least 30 farmers have sold paddy at the Minimum Support Price through me, but payment for none of them has been received from the government agencies. As far as I know, only three day ago the cash credit limit has been sanctioned by the RBI for making MSP payment. So, now I am hopeful that payments would start coming in from the ensuing week,” mentioned the agent.
Expressing comparable concern, Harbans Singh of Jandpur village mentioned the delay in well timed payment would hamper his sowing for rabi (winter) season. “I have to buy seeds and other things for wheat sowing, but if there’s a delay in the payment, which is quite evident, then I’ll have to borrow money from someone..It will only add to woes,” mentioned Mr. Harbans, who had sown paddy in 17 acres.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had not too long ago requested the Food and Civil Supplies division to make sure immediate lifting of the produce and launch of payment throughout the stipulated timeframe of 72 hours. Paddy procurement commenced on September 27 attributable to early arrival of the crop this 12 months owing to advance planting. The procurement operations would proceed until November 30.
Till October 10, 23.11 lakh tonnes paddy has arrived in the ‘mandis’ throughout Punjab, of which 21.93 lakh tonnes has been procured by numerous companies. Punjab is concentrating on procurement of 171 lakh tonnes in the continuing season.
Kesar Singh, a farmer from Khanpur village, mentioned procurement preparations are much better this season in comparability to the wheat procurement in April-June. “The State government has increased the number of centres for crop’s purchase, which has reduced crowding. I have come with over 100 quintals and my commission agent has informed me that payment is expected to come in my account in the next 15 days..It’s a long wait,” mentioned Mr. Kesar, who has planted paddy in shut to twenty acres.
To guarantee hassle-free and protected procurement amid COVID-19, the Punjab Mandi Board has notified over 4,200 buy factors for procurement of paddy. To keep away from mass gatherings and guarantee staggered procurement, the Mandi board has issued 7.71 lakh passes to farmers until October 10. Four state procurement companies together with Punjab Grains Procurement Corporation Ltd, Markfed, State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd and State Warehousing Corporation apart from the FCI are procuring paddy. The A grade paddy is being procured on the MSP of ₹1,888 per quintal.
Farmer outfits are additionally anguished in regards to the delay in the payment. “The Central government should have asked the RBI to sanction the cash credit limit in September month itself. While the procurement started on September 27, the cash credit limit for Punjab was sanctioned on October 7. This reflects the indifferent attitude of the Central government towards farmers. They want to create hurdles in the MSP mechanism to eventually dismantle it. The State government is also to be blamed as it did not push for early sanctioning of the limit,” mentioned Jagmohan Singh, common secretary, Bhartaiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda).
“With the cash credit limit now being sanctioned, the State government, through its agencies should immediately start making payments and keep its promise of releasing payment within 72 hours of crop’s purchase,” he mentioned.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan earlier this week mentioned the money credit score restrict amounting to ₹30,220.82 crore has been sanctioned for MSP payment.
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