Jalandhar August 2 : Castigating the Aam Aadmi Government of Punjab for making bluff with the farmers to sow moong as an alternative crop and assuring to make a complete purchase, the Mahila Kisan Union has alleged that in the current season about 86 percent out of total Moong production has been purchased by the traders below the minimum support price (MSP). The union has demanded that the Bhagwant Mann government should compensate the Moong growers with at least Rs 2,500 per quintal to compensate for the financial losses they have faced.
Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, President of Mahila Kisan Union, Biba Rajwinder Kaur Raju said as per the records, the target was to produce about 4.5 lakh quintals Moong crop sown in more than one lakh acres of land, but contrary to the promise by the AAP dispensation, very little crop has been bought by the state procurement agency.
Divulging the purchase details, the women farmer leader said incompatibe to the tall claims of CM Bhagwant Mann, the Markfed has procured only 48,062 quintals (11.84%) of the Moong at MSP while the traders have purchased 3,57,912 quintals (88.16%) at a price less than the fixed MSP. The helpless farmers had to wait for days in the grain markets to sell their produce and tesorted at the mercy of private purchasers, she alleged.
Talking about the breach of promise with the moong growers, Biba Raju informed that official data shows that 86 per cent of the Moong have been sold below the fixed MSP of Rs 7,275 per quintal, while in some mandis traders have bought Moong at a very low price of Rs 3,000-3,500 per quintal in the state, causing huge financial loss to the farmers.
The farmer leader demanded from the Punjab government that in view of the financial loss caused to the cultivators, instead of Rs 1000 per quintal, compensation of Rs 2500 per quintal should be given immediately so that farmers are not discouraged to grow alternative crops in future.
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