New Delhi:
Food Corporation of India (FCI) has not set up any counter at Narela Mandi and is ‘not procuring’ food grains on MSP, alleged Delhi Agriculture Minister Gopal Rai after inspecting the Narela Mandi here on Friday. The minister’s visit to the mandi came following the alleged complaints from farmers that in Narela Mandi, FCI has not been procuring food grains on MSP.
He also said that the Centre should stop ‘harassing’ farmers and purchase food grains by setting up counters in mandis. Raising question on absence of FCI’s counter, Rai said, “When food grains are being procured inside the mandis across the country, why does FCI have a problem only with Delhi.”
Rai said that farmers today are fighting the MSP battle and know how much they will be harassed after the implementation of the three agricultural laws. He said that to resolve the matter at hand, he will hold a meeting with senior officials of FCI in Delhi Secretariat on Saturday.
Rai said, “From the past few days, we’ve been getting several complaints from farmers that in Narela Mandi, FCI has not been procuring food grains on MSP. When we asked FCI for details regarding this, FCI wrote to us that they have been purchasing food grains since 1st April. Yesterday (Thursday), when we asked for a report from the Mandi, we discovered that FCI did not even set up a counter over here. Yet, the FCI again said that they have been making purchases.”
“Taking cognisance of this situation, we decided to inspect the situation today and have been apprised by the President and Secretary of the Mandi that not even one counter has been set up by the FCI as yet. We called concerned FCI officials for a meeting too, but they weren’t ready to come, and the ones who did, weren’t ready to speak,” he added,
He said, “I find it difficult to comprehend what the problem is? If FCI has set up a counter, then they may show us where it is. And if said counter is not in place, there is no need for them to lie.”
“In Narela Mandi, neither any procurement is being done, nor has any counter been set up. FCI claimed that they set up a counter, but our visit reveals something else. Some of their officers had said that counters had been set up in the godown. However, even over there, no purchases were being done, and instead, farmers had been asked for documents. This system is such that the farmer is being compelled to rush from the mandi to the godown through the day. The government has decided that we will authorize a Chairman, Secretary and Deputy Secretary in the Mandi,” Rai asserted.
“Farmers should come to the Mandi for their produce to be certified, and it is from the Mandi that their produce must be purchased, just as it is done in all other places. If the FCI still doesn’t agree, then I will hold a meeting with senior officials as we don’t want farmers to face any trouble. All this is being done only to trouble farmers. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure the convenience of the farmers.
“However, this situation is forcing farmers to run from pillar to post, thereby hindering the purchase process. Hence, we have directed them to create a system within which farmers are able to avail all facilities from a single place so that they do not have to worry,” he concluded.
