Grain Markets in Haryana Choked Due to Slow Wheat Lifting

Grain Oversupply Grips Haryana Mandis 

Grain markets across Haryana are facing a severe shortage of space as the pace of lifting procured wheat by government agencies is very slow. Despite a large amount of wheat arriving, only a small portion has been lifted, forcing farmers and traders to find desperate ways to offload their produce. 

In Kurukshetra, the situation is so bad that wheat stocks are being offloaded near the sacred Brahma Sarovar and the fairground of the Kurukshetra Development Board. Madan Mohan Chhabra, chairman of the 48-kos Tirtha Monitoring Committee, expressed concern, saying, "This happens every year. We have raised the issue multiple times with officials, but the space is still used to offload wheat and paddy crops."

Farmers and Traders Express Anger 

Farmers and traders have expressed their anger over the slow lifting process. Ashok Gupta, state president of the Haryana State Grain Market Arthiya Association, said, "Slow lifting has left the grain markets choked, and farmers have to wait to offload their produce. Contractors have failed to lift the produce from the grain markets on time." 

In Bhiwani district, farmers protested against the slow procurement, purchase, and payment processes. Activists of the All India Kisan Sabha alleged mismanagement by the administration, claiming that lakhs of quintals of mustard and wheat lying in the open got soaked in recent rains due to a lack of proper arrangements. 

Government Assurances Fall Flat

Despite assurances from the authorities, the situation on the ground remains dire. Bajrang Garg, president of the Haryana Pradesh Vyapar Mandal, criticised the government's claims regarding the purchase, lifting, and payment of wheat and mustard, stating, "The government's claims have failed." 

In Karnal and Kaithal districts, the slow pace of lifting has resulted in a space crunch, with nearly 52% and 56% of the procured wheat, respectively, lying in various grain markets. Rajnish Chaudhary, president of the Karnal district Anaj Mandi Arhtiyas Association, said farmers were approaching the arhtiyas over poor lifting, adding, "We have already raised the issue with the authorities to speed up the lifting process." 

As the procurement season continues, the mounting piles of grain in Haryana's markets are causing widespread distress among farmers and traders, who are calling for immediate action from the government to expedite the lifting process and alleviate the mounting pressure on the state's grain markets.