The Rashtriya Lok Dal demanded immediate payment to farmers for their crops in the current session. RLD national spokesperson Anupam Mishra blamed the state government for alleged irregularities at the wheat purchase centres and denial of payment to the farmers. Mishra said that farmers were being harassed at all the wheat purchase centres of the state.
“CM Yogi Adityanath should visit the wheat purchase centres and see for himself how would the farmers, with their crops loaded on bullock-carts and tractor-trolleys, wait for their turn for many days. They are discouraged by being told that their wheat is dirty, wet and of poor quality,” he said.
Mishra said the farmers were being discouraged so that they sold their produce to brokers and middlemen at throwaway prices. “After the farmers sell the wheat to brokers, the same crop is bought at the MSP from middlemen at government purchasing centres,” he alleged.
“About Rs 8.50 crore have not been paid to 2,000-odd farmers at all the 42 purchasing centres in Lucknow,” he said while citing an example.
He said the farmers were compelled to visit the purchasing centres everyday and their preparations and works related to other crops of agriculture were getting delayed. He demanded that the period of purchase at the centres be extended till June 30.