Shimla, Sep 20
Five hundred (500) ryots from 27 Gram Panchayats of Mand region of Fetehpur and Indora subdivision in Kangra district attended a convention to demand opening of paddy procurement centres in the district to bring them under the ambit of minimum support price scheme. They were protesting under the banner of Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha.
The farmer convention was held at Rayali under Mand region in Kangra district under the leadership of HKS leader Dr Kuldeep Singh Tanwar. He said that farmers displayed strong resentment against state government as they were not given minimum support prices on paddy.
The farmer convention was held at Rayali under Mand region in Kangra district under the leadership of HKS leader Dr Kuldeep Singh Tanwar. He said that farmers displayed strong resentment against state government as they were not given minimum support prices on paddy.
During the convention farmers raised the demand of opening Procurement centres for paddy in the state as ryots are not getting the benefit of MSP in the five grain markets of Punjab and border states.
Dr Tanwar said ” Paddy farmers of the state produce about 1.89 lakh quintal paddy per annum which is more than the state’s own requirement under PDS system.
Dr Tanwar said ” Paddy farmers of the state produce about 1.89 lakh quintal paddy per annum which is more than the state’s own requirement under PDS system.
Rather than purchasing rice from the farmers, the State is importing about 1.05 lakh quintal of PDS rice or paddy from outside whereas on the other hand farmers are not fetching good prices or benefit of MSP in the state.”
“Till 2020 paddy farmers were selling their produce in five grain markets of Punjab but last year APMC of Punjab decided to not extend the benefit of procurement to them and they were deprived of MSP rate of Rs 1940 per quintal, forcing them to leave in their grainery or sell it at throwaway prices.” informed Tanwar.
”Now paddy crops is about to be harvested in the month of October in the state however Government is trying to make various excuses to not open Procurement centers to buy the paddy from the farmers. Confusing statements were being made by the officials of agriculture department who are trying to push the burden of opening procurement centers on Food Corporation of India and Himachal Pradesh state Food and supply Corporation” he alleged.
He said that state Government has laid target to produce about 135500 metric ton paddy in the state and is likely to be achieved.
“Till 2020 paddy farmers were selling their produce in five grain markets of Punjab but last year APMC of Punjab decided to not extend the benefit of procurement to them and they were deprived of MSP rate of Rs 1940 per quintal, forcing them to leave in their grainery or sell it at throwaway prices.” informed Tanwar.
”Now paddy crops is about to be harvested in the month of October in the state however Government is trying to make various excuses to not open Procurement centers to buy the paddy from the farmers. Confusing statements were being made by the officials of agriculture department who are trying to push the burden of opening procurement centers on Food Corporation of India and Himachal Pradesh state Food and supply Corporation” he alleged.
He said that state Government has laid target to produce about 135500 metric ton paddy in the state and is likely to be achieved.
He said that 50 per cent of paddy is produced by 27 gram panchayats of Mand region of Kangra is known among highest per acre production of paddy in the state.
He said that state Government are not helping the distressed farmers as farmers producing paddy and maize or corns in the Kharif season are not getting remunerative prices in the state. Farmers decided to joined the Sep 27 all India farmers band as Government is not serious on the issue of MSP and withdrawing the three farms law, he added.
He said that state Government are not helping the distressed farmers as farmers producing paddy and maize or corns in the Kharif season are not getting remunerative prices in the state. Farmers decided to joined the Sep 27 all India farmers band as Government is not serious on the issue of MSP and withdrawing the three farms law, he added.
Figure and area under paddy cultivation
Total paddy area is estimated at 50 thousand hectares in Himachal Pradesh. Besides this farmers of Mandi, Sirmaur , Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Solan district also produce paddy.
Farmers produce mainly ‘parmal’ and major Basmati variety PB-1509 (65 to 70 pc ), PB-1121 (20 pc to 25) and Basmati 370 ( 16 to 18 pc). The total area under rice in Himachal Pradesh is about 80,000 hectares, spread across 10 districts.
In Mandi district, red rice farming is done at Janjehli, Churag and Thunag. The annual production of red rice in the state tune to 9,926 quintals, with an average production of between 8 and 10 quintals a hectare.
State Agriculture minister Varinder Kanwar said in recent monsoon session of state assembly that no procurement centres were opened for the paddy and maize farmers during last two years, however FCI had opened three Procurement centres during the Rabi season for Wheat.
State Agriculture minister Varinder Kanwar said in recent monsoon session of state assembly that no procurement centres were opened for the paddy and maize farmers during last two years, however FCI had opened three Procurement centres during the Rabi season for Wheat.