Welfare schemes for farmers

Chandigarh, October 14, 2012: Traditional marketing system of fruits and vegetables is unfavorable for farmers as major share of consumer rupee is pocketed by the traders. The farmers used to get low price for their produce whereas the consumers had to pay higher price for poor quality products available in the markets.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Agriculture Department said that Punjab State Marketing Board had already  started “farmers’s market”  with a view to give boost to the small farmers around cities so as to provide direct access to the consumers, by eliminating the middlemen. It is also known as the “Apni Mandi” because it belongs to both the farmers and the consumers who can mutually help each other.

The spokesman said that offices of different departments of Punjab Government relating to Agriculture at Sub Divisional Headquarters were not concentrated at one lace and farmers have to shuttle from one corner of the town to another. The Board has initiated a scheme for construction of Vikas Bhawans at all Sub-Divisional Headquarters. The work on 18 such Vikas Bhawans has already been completed at a cost of Rs. 411.86 lacs. The Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil Conservation, Animal Husbandry, Food and Civil Supplies, Fisheries, Food Corporation of India, MARKFED and PUNSUP are planned to have their administrative offices located in each of these complexes. Vikas Bhawans have been constructed at Sub Division and Head Quarters in the State. These Vikas Bhawans have been constructed with a view to house offices related to farmers under one roof at Ajnala, Tarn Taran, Patti, Fazilka, Abohar, Nabha, Malerkotla, Batala, Dasuya, Phagwara, Zira, Sunam, Barnala, Gurdaspur, Jagraon (Ludhiana), Mukatsar.

The spokesman further said that  Mandi Board has started the scheme of Grading of Foodgrains & oilseeds in 89 markets of the state. Under this scheme wheat, paddy, Toria (rape seed), Sarson (Mustard seed) and sunflower seeds are graded in the market before auction. Samples are drawn from the heaps of the produce for measuring different parameters, Such as moisture, dust and dirt, trash, weevil led, shriveled and damaged grains, grains of other varieties and other commodities and foreign matter etc. The grade cards are displayed on heaps before auction. Grading staff has been go to trained from the Government of India. The future programme includes laboratory analysis of important quality factors of commodities. The buyer shall be encouraged to pay price to the farmer on the basic of scientific information.

The spokesman said that  in order to encourage better price for better quality product, Cotton Grading Scheme has been made operative. Visual grading was undertaken in all the 25 important markets . Three modern laboratories have been set up, one each at Rampuraphul, Malout and Mukatsar. Five more laboratories are being set up at Bathinda, Mansa, Abohar, Kotkapura, Gidderbaha with the help of Technology Mission on Cotton (Govt. of India). In these labs different quality Para- meters of cotton like fineness, maturity, strength, span length, ginning percentage & trash contents are numerically tested. The basic objective of grading is to get the proper price to producer and graded quality to purchaser . The grade is assigned to the produce (Cotton) before its sale so that farmers and purchasers stand educated about the quality of the produce ensuring remunerative price commensurate with quality. It helps both the seller and the buyer to transact the business on a dependable base. For farmers the grading tests are free whereas from traders a nominal fee is charged.
The spokesman said Moisture Meters have also been provided in the mandis for reckoning the moisture content and to facilitate proper price fixation and settlement of disputes regarding quality. This helps farmers in getting appropriate prices of their produce. This helps Punjab markets are being used maximum for sale and purchase of wheat and paddy. These moisture meters are being used in a big way.           

The spokesman said that Punjab Mandi Board has introduced new farmer's incentive scheme in all the mandis of the State. Under this scheme, the Secretary Market Committee will issue gift coupon to the seller farmers on production of J form. One gift coupon will be given to the farmer selling each of 50 quintals of agricultural produce (paddy and wheat). Draws will be held for each Market Committee at its office twice a year.

The spokesman said This scheme will be applicable for wheat and paddy produce only and will be valid for the wheat form 1st April to 31st May and for paddy from 15th Sept. to 15th Dec. There will be total 9 prizes for each Market Committee. First prize will be of Rs. 50,000 , next 3 prizes for Rs. 35,000 each and last 5 prizes for Rs. 20,000 each.

The spokesman said This scheme will encourage the farmers to bring their produce in mandis, help in maintaining the proper sale records and will get also help to encourage the farmer to get the sale price.

The spokesman further said scheme was started for giving scholarships to the poor and deserving students from rural areas through Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana at the rate of Rs. 600 per month. The total number of scholarships of different classes in the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry and Kandi area (foothills) is 284. This goes a long way in fostering interest of the students in agriculture and related subjects for studies besides, promoting the cause of agricultural marketing