State government’s claim of being a pro-farmer government is being exposed in the current season of wheat procurement across the state. Firstly farmers in large numbers haven’t availed benefit of loan waver and now they are forced to wait in mandis for wheat procurement at temperatures hovering around 41 degrees Celsius. Despite instructions from higher officials wheat procurement started late in several procurements centres.
Not only this, farmers are also not getting the SMS from societies for procurement. In absence of proper communication long queues of tractors could be seen lined up at several places. The mismanagement in overall wheat procurement system has irked farmers to the extent that farmers have resorted to agitation at several places.
In Sehore farmers had to face problems at hands of society officials and protested in Sehore mandi. Farmers had to protest at Nasrullaganj mandi few days ago and stop the auction process. Similar reports emerged from Ashoknagar, where farmers are not receiving SMS. Farmer Ramratan, with his eyes all welled up, said the traders are paying Rs 300 per quintal less for his wheat. He is left with no option but to surrender to their exploitative mechanism as his daughter’s wedding is due on April 25.
The ground reports from Ganjbasoda, Hoshangabad and other districts are all the same. Procurement in Hoshangabad started almost a week late. Over 28 farmers in Pipariya of Hoshangabad district could not get payments for last one month, despite assurance from the officials concerned. Ultimately they lodged complaint with sachiv of the Krishi Upaj Mandi. Following which sachiv Naresh Parmar has assured the farmers that he will take appropriate action in the case.
According to reports coming in from Khategaon in Dewas district the farmers are not getting appropriate facilities in mandi. State government has given instructions to make arrangements for clean drinking water for farmers besides providing them shade at mandis. Farmers are also entitled to get snacks in the mandis but most of the mandis lack these facilities.
Farmer Kishan Malviya from Khategaon said that the society personnel are weighing 700 to 800 grams extra wheat per every 50 kg. Any protest is replied with threat of expulsion from mandi officials, said Malviya. Irked over the whole scenario Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Om Patel said if things do not change they will be forced to resort to agitation.
Storage poses challenge
Another challenge faced by the state government is related to storage of procured wheat. Last year government had bought 73 lakh ton of wheat. This year agriculture department estimate says that about 95 lakh ton wheat will be produced- that is additional 20 lakh ton. State government procures wheat through about 3000 societies across the state and send them to godowns and warehouses. Total capacity of warehouse in state is of about 135 lakh ton.
Sources from state warehouse corporation said that wheat and dalhan in large quantities are still lying in the warehouses. According to an estimate more than 75 lakh ton of space is occupied in state warehouses that includes 25 lakh ton of wheat, 22 lakh ton of dalhans and 25 lakh tons of paddy and other grains. Some space is also occupied with salt and other PDS related food items. About 48 lakh ton of wheat and other grains were to be picked by the union government that hasn’t been done.
