Punjab: Rain dampens wheat stock in Fazilka grain market; commission agents, farmers suffer losses

By Praful Chander Nagpal

Lakhs of filled and weighed wheat bags lying in the open at the Fazilka grain market were soaked following overnight rain. Hundreds of bags were submerged in rainwater due to incessant showers

Notably, owing to the delay in lifting of wheat, the produce has been kept on roads, with several bags stacked even on low-lying stretches for want of space.

Aarhtiya Association President Sanjeev Goldy Sachdeva said that commission agents are bearing the brunt of the delay in lifting. He added that they are being forced to absorb losses, as they are currently engaged in segregating and refilling the wet wheat to prevent deterioration in quality.

He warned that the quality of the rain-soaked grain could decline if it is not promptly segregated and repacked into fresh bags.

It was learnt that the contractor failed to provide the required number of trucks for lifting wheat, resulting in losses to both farmers and commission agents.

Sources further revealed that wheat bags lying on open plinths in Chauwarian Wali village were also soaked in the rain.

According to Market Committee sources, around 7.84 lakh bags (each weighing 50 kg) are still awaiting lifting from the Fazilka main grain market, most of which are lying in the open. Of the total 7,34,838 metric tonnes of wheat procured, nearly 3,37,529 metric tonnes (46%) are yet to be lifted.

Mandeep Kamra, Secretary, Market Committee, Fazilka, acknowledged the lifting issues but stated that rainwater was drained out using motors during the night itself. He claimed that no major loss has been reported, though some bags in low-lying areas may have been submerged in small quantities.

This article has been republished from The Tribune.