A wheat procurement campaign was due to commence in Punjab’s wheat growing areas from April 15, 2017, supplying gunny bags to the farmers to help bring their produce to the nearest procurement centres. Accordingly, the procurement target was initially fixed by the provincial government at four million metric tons and a huge allocation of Rs 130 billion was also provided.
Somehow, the wheat procurement campaign could not start. There was no official announcement from any quarter about the new date from which the supply of gunny bags would now start. As a result, farmers started protesting in various areas regarding the non-supply of gunny bags.
There is no doubt that the Chief Minister has the welfare of the farmers nearest to his heart and is taking adequate measures like the provision of interest free loans to small farmers for their economic well-being.
Attention of the worthy Chief Minister is being drawn though towards reports which have been appearing in the newspapers during the last few days. These reports have said that the farmers are being forced to offer their produced wheat at Rs 1,100 instead of the fixed supporting price of Rs 1,300 for 40 kilograms, and that farmers were demanding gunny bags, etc.
The Chief Minister had not only designated the ministers and other officials for supervision of the wheat procurement campaign in their assigned districts to ensure farmers get their due right and no injustice in any manner is done to them, but had also announced that he would personally be monitoring the campaign.
The Chief Minister should take due notice of the farmers’ grievances and complaints, which have been briefly mentioned above, and set things right at the earliest by taking those at fault to task. Similarly, it should officially be announced whether the supply of gunny bags has started or when the farmers will be given the gunny bags for their information.
Meem Zay Rifat
LAHORE
