By PTI
CHANDIGARH: Farmers’ unions in Punjab on Monday dubbed the Centre’s resolution of banning wheat exports as an “anti-farmer” transfer, saying that the Union authorities just isn’t letting them reap the positive aspects as a consequence of greater costs of their crops within the abroad markets.
They additionally slammed the Centre for not asserting a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal of wheat, as demanded by them to compensate the drop within the yield on account of shrivelled grains as a consequence of intense warmth wave in March.
The Union authorities has banned wheat exports in a bid to examine excessive costs amid issues over decrease wheat output this 12 months.
According to the federal government, the choice will assist management retail costs of wheat and wheat flour, which have risen by a median 14-20 per cent within the final one 12 months, in addition to assembly the foodgrain requirement of neighbouring and susceptible international locations.
Quite a lot of farmers, particularly massive wheat growers, in Punjab have saved the crop in anticipation of fetching greater returns later, stated farmers. “It is an anti-farmer decision,” Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) common secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan stated on Monday.
He stated the export ban will hit these farmers who had saved the crop in anticipation of fetching greater returns when the costs would enhance within the home market.
Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) common secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal too condemned the central authorities’s resolution. “This decision is not in the interest of farmers,” stated Lakhowal, including that the federal government ought to have continued with the export to make the most of greater costs within the worldwide market.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday had slammed the Centre’s resolution of banning wheat exports, saying that this transfer will trigger a drop in demand for the crop and farmers would be the worst victims.
The Punjab authorities on Sunday ordered continuation of wheat procurement operations on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at 232 mandis within the state until May 31.
The state’s meals and civil provides minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Sunday stated that the restriction on wheat exports was more likely to end in a dip in costs of the meals grain within the home market.
“As a result, some farmers who had stored the wheat produce in anticipation of fetching higher prices later, might have a rethink now and opt to sell the wheat. Therefore, it was important that the facility of government purchase at MSP continues to be available to them in order to avoid distress sale,” Kataruchak had stated.
Wheat manufacturing in Punjab is anticipated to drop by round 30 lakh metric tonnes (MT) to 147 MT as towards the projection of 177 lakh MT on account of antagonistic affect on crop yield as a consequence of sudden excessive temperature within the month of March.
Wheat procurement from Punjab can be anticipated to overlook the goal of 132 lakh MT as a consequence of decrease yield.
Out of a complete arrival of 102.27 lakh MT in grain markets to this point, the federal government procurement companies have purchased 96.17 lakh MT whereas non-public merchants bought 6.10 lakh MT, in line with official knowledge.
Punjab Roller Flour Millers Association president Naresh Ghai, nonetheless, hailed the Centre’s transfer, saying that the ban on exports would assist in stabilising wheat costs. He stated wheat costs in Madhya Pradesh and different state mandis have risen to Rs 2,200 per quintal.
The Centre has earlier relaxed procurement norms to permit as much as 18 per cent shrivelled wheat grains in Punjab and Haryana.
