Haryana wheat agents threaten to boycott polls

Commission agents operating in wheat sale in UP-Haryana border have threatened to boycott Lok Sabha elections if the state government did not allow farmers from UP to sell their yield in the state. 

However, an official of Haryana Food and Civil Supply Department denied the charge that the farmers from UP were discouraged to offload crop in the state. 

"We have put in a system to check the illegal practice of commission agents who are trying to make quick money by way of buying cheap wheat from farmers in UP and then sell it at higher rate (MSP), resulting in direct loss to farmers," the official said. 

Karnal Arthiya Association, President Vinod Goyal said they would stay away from elections if the government did not permit farmers from UP to sell their grain in their market. 

With wheat price in the range of Rs 930-Rs 950 per quintal in Uttar Pradesh, agents from Panipat, Kurukehtra, Karnal and Sonepat buy it from bordering areas and sell at higher rates, the official said. 

The department took measures to check inflow of wheat from the neighbouring state. Wheat arrival in Haryana reached 60.37 lakh MT against 39.33 lakh MT last season and it has already surpassed last year's total arrival of 53.37 lakh MT.