KICHHA: Paddy procurement at the government grain market has remained severely disrupted, leaving farmers waiting with harvested crops and worrying about possible rain damage. Several cultivators say they have been at the market for 10 to 15 days, guarding their produce because it has not been purchased.

4 procurement centres have been established at the market. 2 are operated by the Food and Cooperative Supplies Department, while the other 2 belong to cooperative societies. However, only limited quantities have been weighed so far.

The cooperative centre has purchased 758 quintals of paddy, while 406 quintals have been weighed at the cooperative society centre. Paddy heaps are now spread across different parts of the market, adding to farmers’ concerns about storage and weather conditions.

Mill registration delays procurement

State Marketing Inspector Kaushal Kumar said the rice mills that are expected to take the paddy have not yet completed registration. He said the procurement portal can open only after the registration process is completed.

The delay has left farmers waiting in the market with no clear procurement schedule. Some say they have had to bring food from home while staying near their stocks. They also fear that rain could damage the crop before it is weighed and accepted.

Hridayesh Kumar of Pateri village said around 350 quintals of his paddy had been spread in the market. He said he was worried that rain could wash away the income earned from an entire year’s crop.

Satpal Singh of Anjaniya said he brought 200 quintals to the market on 28 September. He said he had remained there since then without receiving help from political representatives or officials.

Shakeel Ahmad of Malpura said he had brought 50 quintals. According to him, intermediaries arrive at the market in the morning and offer low prices to farmers who have become exhausted by waiting.

Mohammad Ahmad and Mohammad Sadiq, also from Malpura, have reportedly been staying at the market with their paddy for about a fortnight. They said their produce had still not been purchased.

Farmers are also concerned that the approaching Dussehra festival could bring another explanation for delays, including a lack of space at the market. They have demanded that official procurement begin without further delay.

Wider concerns over paddy procurement

In Gadarpur, an indefinite sit-in has been announced at the tehsil headquarters over the absence of compensation for farmers affected by hailstorms. Congress state vice-president Rajendra Pal Singh appealed to farmers to reach the headquarters at 11:00 on Wednesday.

Singh alleged that paddy crops worth lakhs of rupees had been destroyed in several villages in the Gadarpur area. He criticised the administration for not announcing compensation and said the protest would continue indefinitely. These are the claims made in support of the proposed demonstration; the source does not provide an administrative response on compensation.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Rice Millers’ Organisation met Mandhi Parishad chairman Dr Anil Kapoor Dubbू in Rudrapur to discuss obstacles affecting paddy procurement. Mayor Vikas Sharma was also present at the meeting.

Dr Kapoor assured the organisation that its demands would be conveyed to the chief minister. He said the issue would be discussed with the chief minister on 16 October and urged rice mills to begin procurement promptly while keeping farmers’ interests in mind. Organisation president Satyawan Garg agreed to the appeal.

Conclusion

Kichha farmers remain stuck with unsold paddy while procurement centres record limited weighing. The immediate process depends on rice-mill registration and the opening of the procurement portal, while farmers are seeking urgent action to protect their crops and income.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many paddy procurement centres are operating at Kichha market?

4 centres have been established: 2 under the Food and Cooperative Supplies Department and 2 under cooperative societies.

Q. How much paddy has been weighed at the 2 reported centres?

The cooperative centre has purchased 758 quintals, while 406 quintals have been weighed at the cooperative society centre.

Q. Why has procurement not fully started?

State Marketing Inspector Kaushal Kumar said rice mills have not completed registration, and the procurement portal can open only after registration.

Q. How long have some farmers been waiting at the market?

Several farmers said they had been guarding their paddy at the market for 10 to 15 days.

Q. What are farmers worried about?

They fear that rain could damage their paddy before it is purchased and weighed.

Q. What did farmers demand?

They demanded that government paddy procurement begin immediately.

Q. What is planned in Gadarpur?

An indefinite sit-in has been announced at the tehsil headquarters over the lack of compensation for hailstorm-affected farmers.

Q. When will the rice-millers’ concerns be discussed with the chief minister?

Dr Anil Kapoor said the matter would be discussed with the chief minister on 16 October.