New Delhi, 19th October , Daljeet Kaur  : Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) strongly protests against the Union Government for the chaos created in the process of procurement of paddy in Punjab and Haryana.  The Food Corporation of India-FCI did not lift last year’s paddy stock from the warehouses and Mills on time is the root cause of the current acute procurement crisis. 

Punjab produces 180 LMT of paddy annually, and after milling, it yields around 125 LMT of rice, which is stored. Out of last year’s stock, the FCI has yet to lift around 130 LMT of rice stored in Punjab’s warehouses and rice mills. The warehouses are full, preventing rice millers from procuring this year’s yield due to a lack of storage space.

70% of the harvesting is over but no lifting

Farmers are witnessing for the first time in history such poor lifting of their yield on time. In Punjab 70% of the harvesting is over but no lifting is taking place. Trolleys full of paddy are lying parked in the houses across Punjab and Haryana. Farmers will not get payment in their bank account till the consignment reaches the go downs.

There were efforts to create procurement crisis and destroy the bond between the farmers, Arhtiyas (Middlemen), Mill Owners and workers in the APMC Markets to destroy the procurement system. 

SKM has supported the genuine demands of all sections involved in the procurement industry and convened meetings of their representatives and called for united agitations demanding immediate solution to the crisis. 

FCI : SKM Alleged Conspiracy to Destroy Robust APMC System

The pro-corporate policies of the Union Government and the inefficient handling of the crisis by the State Governments of Punjab and Haryana created the current mess.

SKM alleged that corporate forces are conspiring to destroy the robust, time-tested Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) system, closely linked with villages, to exploit farmers.

Pro-corporate policies have targeted the APMC system, forcing farmers to sell their paddy at distress rates to corporate players like Adani, who has constructed silos at Moga, Kathunangal in Amritsar, and Raikot in Ludhiana.

Farmers are unable to meet the cost of production

Less than 10% of paddy produced nationwide is procured, and that too at the low MSP@A2+FL+50% rate. Farmers cannot cover production costs from their sale income. Instead of ensuring full procurement and fair prices through MSP@C2+50%, the Union Government seeks to dismantle the limited yet successful APMC procurement system in Punjab and Haryana.

SKM urges the Union Government to address the procurement crisis sensitively, ensuring timely paddy procurement and payment to farmers.

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