Farmers Movement Archive

Rain pain: Negligible wheat arrival in city grain markets

Amritsar, April 20Even as the procurement of wheat produce by government agencies had started on April 15, wheat has arrived in a negligible quantity in some grain markets of the district so far. The reason is that the crop has not yet fully ripened and intermittent rain, which will increase the moisture content in grain, has further delayed the harvesting.Agriculture experts say that if the weather remains clear with enough sunlight during the day, the harvesting may begin in the next four-five days. Of the 56 permanent grain markets and nine temporary procurement centres, wheat has arrived only at the three grain markets of Jandiala Guru, Tangra and Rayya. The officials stated that the arrival of wheat produce at these markets too was very poor.Meanwhile, officials of the district mandi have made the required arrangements at all the procurement centres. A visit to the district’s biggest grain market (Bhagtanwala Dana Mandi) revealed that washbasins with taps operated by foot had been installed at different points to help farmers and workers sanitise their hands.The idea behind the foot-operated taps is to decrease contact points which are usually touched by a large number of people and could transmit the virus. District Mandi Officer Jaswinder Singh said, “We have demarcated the mandi yard in different parts to ensure social distancing. We are also going to ensure that no unnecessary movement is allowed inside the markets.”

The Tribune

2020-04-21