Farmers Movement Archive

Amritsar markets witness record arrival of paddy this season

Amritsar, December 12The markets in the district have witnessed a record arrival of 4,72,819 metric tonne (MT) of paddy this season, as compared to the total arrival of 2,52,401 MT last year.The arrival has nearly doubled and is being attributed to the sale of paddy produced in other states.However, no arrival has been reported after November 26. While the procurement figures are high, farmers have not reported any increase in yield. The sale of paddy from other states was detected in November, when farmer unions had stopped a few trucks coming from UP.The farmers have not reported any increase in yield this year though the Agriculture Department claims so. The grain markets in the district have not seen any new arrival after November 26.“The yield is almost same. And even if there was a little increase, it has not doubled,” said Jagjeet Singh, a farmer.Earlier in October, farmer unions had stopped a few trucks ferrying paddy from UP and Bihar at the Jandiala toll plaza. Later, the administration had registered FIRs in this regard. Paddy, in states where it is not purchased on MSP, is sold at a price of Rs800-1,000 per quintal.However, with Rs1,888 per quintal MSP for paddy in Punjab, rice mills and traders bring paddy from states with no MSP, so that it could again be sold at higher price to earn profit.Meanwhile, a total of 3,72,072 MT of basmati varieties have arrived at markets so far. The basmati varieties are purchased by private players.An Agriculture Department official on the condition of anonymity said: “The major rise in paddy arrival is due to the transportation of paddy from other states. Normally, yield can increase by one or two quintals per acre.”

The Tribune

2020-12-13