Farmers slam govt over wheat import

The farmer organisations in Punjab have slammed the decision of the Centre of importing wheat and have decided to ask its farmers to drastically decrease wheat production so that the government "should know their worth."

Akhilesh Prasad Singh, minister of state for agriculture, consumer affairs, food and public distribution, said on Tuesday that the Centre is planning to import at least 50 lakh tonnes of wheat if their procurement targets are not met on time.

In Punjab, out of a target of 90-lakh tonne wheat collection, the agencies have been able to procure only 59.3 lakh tonne till Monday, as against 69-lakh tonne wheat that was procured in 2006. The minister has also said Punjab farmers are hoarding up to 30 per cent of the total wheat produced in Punjab.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, president, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) while speaking to Business Standard said the decision of importing wheat clearly indicates that the government does not need us anymore.

"So now let them import as much wheat as they want to because we will ask all the farmers of Punjab to stop producing wheat for central pool. The government just wants to earn its commission in dollars than in rupees and, that is why, they have made such policies which have forced the farmers to keep stocks of wheat with themselves,'' he said.

"I think the minister is not well informed of the fact that due to unfavorable weather conditions in February and March, the per acre yield has gone down by 5-6 quintals. The farmers have kept stock of just 10-12 lakh tonnes of total wheat and not 30 percent,'' Rajewal informed.

Recently, the chairman of the Punjab Board (who is also the president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Lakhowal) had said that Rs 1,140 per quintal Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be given to the farmers.

Bhupinder Singh Mann, president, All India Kisan Coordination Committee said, "The government has forced the farmers to hold the stocks. By restricting private companies from procuring wheat from the farmers, the government is creating monopoly for FCI, which in itself is restricted under restricted trade practices."

"And if the government has every right to import wheat from anywhere in the world, it should also allow its farmers to export wheat anywhere they want to,'' said Mann.