A day after the Centre asked FCI to stop purchase of foodgrains in States like Haryana and Punjab, Haryana Government on Friday claimed the decision would not affect the State and farmers need not to worry from it.
Haryana Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar said the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is not directly lifting wheat from the grain markets. The State agencies like HAFED, CONFED, Food & Supplies Department etc will purchase the wheat and handover the purchase to the Central pool. So, the farmers need not to worry about it, claimed the Minister.
The Minister said, “Every grain of wheat of the farmers of Haryana will be purchased by the Government agencies at Minimum Support Price (MSP) fixed by the Government.” On the other hand, Punjab Government has asked the Centre to reconsider its decision saying it will prove to be very harmful for the farming community and could lead to distress selling.
The Centre had on Thursday asked State-run FCI not to purchase foodgrains in States like Punjab and Haryana as the procurement system is fully developed there. Meanwhile, Dhankar said that Haryana will be hosting Agri leadership Summit 2015-a watershed of agriculture technical know how and activities from March 13 –15.
