Punjab: Paddy farmers demand more after Centre's relaxation

Even as the Centre has yielded to the demand raised by the Punjab government to relax the paddy procurement norms in lieu of inclement weather, the farmers in the state still remain disgruntled.

The Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) Chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal welcomed the Centre’s move to relax the paddy procurement norms lamented that no decision over relaxation of moisture content in paddy has been taken.

The farmers in the state have been demanding moisture content in paddy should be relaxed in view of extended monsoon and late rainfall in October raising the moisture content in atmosphere. Lakhowal maintained the inclement weather this year has resulted in increased moisture content in paddy and hence the norms needs to be relaxed. While the Food Corporation of India (FCI) norms permits paddy with moisture content up to 17 per cent to be purchased in market , the farmers maintained this year the moisture content this year has touched 20-22 per cent because of inclement weather conditions. Due to extended monsoon and fresh spell of rainfall in October the moisture contents has increased and hence it was not possible to follow the permissible limit of FCI for paddy procurement.

The Centre announced to relax the percentage of damaged, discoloured and sprouted grains up to 10 per cent last week. Besides,it also conceded the demand of the state government that there would be “no value cuts on the procured paddy”.

The BKU(Lakhowal) is planning to hold a protest rally in Delhi on November 8 to apprise the Centre of their demands. Lakhowal maintained the farmers would also protect against the minimum rise in MSP of crops especially wheat and paddy.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs while announcing MSP for rabi crops 2010-11 announced marginal increase in MSP of wheat.