Wheat harvesting is picking up in the district and produce has started arriving in mandis.
Till Wednesday, 228 metric tonnes of wheat has arrived at various grains markets located across the district. Of the total arrival, 12 metric tonnes has been purchased by the government and 89 MT by private agencies.
According to agricultural experts, the entire season was ideal for the crop, with mild winters, no natural calamities and temperatures remaining below 35°C during the maturing stage, farmers are expecting some good returns from the crop. As Baisakhi is around the corner, grain markets are expected to be full around the festival.
Bakshish Singh, a farmer from Manuke village said though the government had announced April 1 as the procurement date, now was the optimal time for harvesting. Labourers had also arrived and the harvesting work would be completed by Baisakhi, he said.
Meanwhile, farmers have demanded that all necessary arrangements should be ensured in grain markets across the state. Bharti Kisan Union (Kadian) president Harmeet Singh Kadian said facilities such as drinking water, washrooms, provision of chowkidar and waiting rooms, in case any farmers need to stay at mandi at night, should be provided.
“Combines from Punjab go to neighbouring states such as Haryana, Rajasthan and UP for wheat harvesting and these should be exempt from paying toll tax. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, had also promised to exempt agricultural vehicles from paying toll tax,” he said.
“Still, the toll tax is collected from combines and the government should waive the same. It is only during the kharif and rabi season that the combines come out of the farms, otherwise they are stationed in farms only,” Kadian said.
Parminder Singh from the Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) also raised concern over cleanliness and arrangements at the grain markets.
“It has been learnt that wheat has started arriving at the mandis but at a few markets, procurement has not started yet. After purchasing, the amount should be deposited in farmers’ accounts within 24 hours. At some mandis, there was lack of proper arrangements,” he said.