Farmers Movement Archive

Bajra procurement delayed, farmers to hold panchayat

Rewari: Five days have passed since procurement has started for other crops, but the Haryana government is yet to start buying bajra (pearl millet) directly from farmers. The delay has forced many bajra farmers to sell their produce to private parties, which offer much lower rates than the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government. Farmers under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have decided to hold a panchayat at Kosli subdivision of Rewari on October 10 over the delay in procuring bajra. Apart from the buying of crops, the farmers would also discuss the three central laws, contentious statements given by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The state government was supposed to start procuring bajra from October 1 at an MSP of Rs 2,250 per quintal. On September 28, it had also announced the inclusion of bajra under the Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana. Under the scheme, farmers would be given an additional Rs 600 on every quintal of the produce they have to sell at the market price and not the MSP. Farmers in Haryana can sell only 25% of their produce at MSP this year. The rest can be sold at the average market price. Raj Kumar of Nimoth village has been bringing his produce to the mandi every day since September 30. He has been forced to sell some of it to private buyers. “Selling to private buyers means losses. These private parties know our situation, which is why they are not increasing their rates too. If the government does not respond, we have no option. We just can’t let the produce rot like this,” said Kumar. Some farmers pointed out that even if the government gave an additional Rs 600 to those selling their produce at the market rate, it would still mean losses for them. The MSP for procuring bajra in Rewari is Rs 2,250 per quintal. The average mandi price is between Rs 1,250 and 1,350. Even if the government gives an additional Rs 600 on every quintal, the farmers would still run losses of Rs 300-400. “The government said it would procure only 25% of the bajra this time. But there is no clarity on when the procurement will begin,” said Satya Prakash, the market committee secretary. Rewari has 41,000 bajra growers. Last year, Rewari had produced about 6 lakh quintals of bajras. This year, it is expected to produce at least 3 lakh quintals. “This government is slowly paving the way for private players into the mandis by stopping the MSP for bajra growers,” said Samay Kumar, a farmer. In a letter, farmers outfit Jai Kisan Andolan has written to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, seeking increase in compensation announced by the government under Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana. “The new Bhavantar Yojana is going to cause a loss between Rs 289 crore and Rs 637 crore to the bajra farmers in the state. This will be compensated only if the amount given by the government is increased from Rs 600 per quintal to Rs 1,000 per quintal,” the letter reads. Rewari DC Yashendra Singh could not be contacted despite repeated calls. Haryana agriculture secretary Sumita Misra refused to comment on the issue, when contacted.

The Times of India

2021-10-09

Gurgaon