DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana on Saturday conducted a surprise inspection of major grain markets of Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Jind districts and took stock of the ground reality of wheat procurement operations. On reaching the mandis, farmers and commission agents warmly welcomed the Agriculture Minister and put forth their suggestions and problems before him.

During the inspection, the Agriculture Minister himself checked the weighing machines and thoroughly inspected the crop procurement system. He gave strict instructions to the mandi officials and commission agents that any kind of negligence or carelessness in the wheat procurement process will not be tolerated. He also inspected the stock records in the mandis and took detailed information from the concerned officials.

He said Haryana is an agriculture-based state and the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini is fully committed to the welfare of farmers. He said our target is to buy every grain of the hard work of the farmers at the minimum support price. He informed that so far, 61.81 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has been procured in the state through various procurement agencies and the government has a target of procuring 75 lakh metric tonnes of wheat.

The Agriculture Minister also clarified that complaints of irregularities in weighing machines were received from some mandis, on which strict cognizance has been taken immediately. Action has also been taken against the guilty officers and commission agents. He said, "I am visiting the mandis and taking stock of the procurement operations so that the farmers do not face any kind of inconvenience."

Shyam Singh Rana said that he himself belongs to a farmer family and understands the problems of the farmers very well. He instructed the officials to speed up the lifting of wheat in the mandis so that the farmers are not forced to keep their crop in the mandi for a long time. He also gave instructions to ensure drinking water, toilets, sanitation, electricity and other necessary facilities on the mandi premises.

(editor@dailyworld.in)