Days after the announcement of the new moong procurement policy, which said that the Punjab government would buy the crop from June 1, arhtis (commission agents) are against the move.
He said that they are being evicted from the procurement process, which is in violation of the norms of Punjab Agricultural Marketing Acts and their fundamental right.
He said that he would hold a meeting in this regard at Jagraon Mandi on May 29 and also urged the government to review the policy.
As per the guidelines, 2.5% commission is charged from the buyer while selling the crop from Arthiyas, who sell their crop to government agencies and private players through Arthiyas. With the new policy, the state government can save 2.5% commission on purchases made directly from farmers.
The Punjab government has appointed Markfed and cooperative societies as nodal agencies for procurement of crops from farmers and also issued licenses for procurement and renewing licenses where renewal is required.
Arhti Association Punjab President Ravinder Singh Cheema said that in the assembly elections, AAP’s CM candidate Bhagwant Mann had praised the arhtiyas for playing an important role in the procurement of crops. However, now after becoming the CM, he is expelling the arhtiyas from this process. The government is not only depriving us of work but also violating the agricultural marketing laws of Punjab,” Cheema said.
In the new procurement policy of summer moong, the state government has also told the farmers that the purchase will be done on the basis of land mapping.
District level officers have been instructed that moong is a cash crop and it should be bought only under the shed as there should be no urge to keep the crop in proper place in the mandis to protect it from environmental damage.
There are cooperative societies across the state in Punjab and sheds are also available in almost all the local mandis of the state. Moong procurement will continue till July 31.