G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 27: Recently established procurement centres by Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure paddy in Jammu Province, are leaving no stone unturned to cheat gullible farmers.
However, during establishment of procurement centres in Jammu division, the FCI fixed Rs 4.30 would be charged as labourers charges over 35 kg/ bag or nearly Rs 17 rupees on per quintal but some contractors engaged by FCI to procure paddy are arbitrary charging between Rs 70-80 on per quintals by the farmers in RS Pura and Marh area of Jammu.
A farmer, Ram Lal of RS Pura said that the coalition PDP-BJP government led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had repeatedly claimed that the farmers are backbone of the state. "But unfortunately, the existing dillydallying of the government to fix proper price of farmers' produce is leaving farmers on mercy of God", he said.
He said that the FCI procurement centres were procuring only some varieties of paddy (like- Rattana, china and 6444) but rest of varieties including 1121 and RS Pura famous basmati have not been procure by FCI, adding, "One hand the farmer community already in distress for not procuring the basmati and other hand, the contractors who are engaged to procurement getting Rs 60 rupees more as labourers' charges for procurement of paddy", he said.
Farmer leader Choudhary Dev Raj said that despite repeated demands by basmati growers to fix minimum support price (MSP) of basmati also, government had stayed numb. "As a result, the basmati growers are forced to sell their produce to mill owners", he said.
He said that due to lackadaisical approach of the government, the farmer community is feeling dejected. "Because the cost of production is increasing many folds, whereas the price of farmers produces is decreasing substantially," Choudhary said.
"In one Kanal of land, the production of basmati is one and half quintal and the expenditure to produce one and half quintal basmati is Rs 4,000. Whereas the price of produce as per present market rate was Rs 3,000 (Rs 2,000 per quintal) and you can imagine how can a farmer manage it," said Choudhary Dev Raj.
Vice Chairman of Kisan Advisory Board, Deljeet S Chib said that he was not aware about it and would take appropriate action, if anyone was found guilty. |
