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Labour shortage hits wheat-lifting operations

Chandigarh: Acute shortage of labour has hit the wheat-lifting operations in several grains markets of Punjab as a result the farmers are facing problems in unloading their crops at the mandis.

“Because of the shortage of labour, the wheat purchased by State-owned agencies has not been lifted for the past several days. As a result of which, bags full of wheat are lying in the mandis, leaving no space for keeping fresh arrival of the crop,” said a Khanna-based, Asia’s biggest grains market in Punjab, Commission Agent H.S. Rosha.

Besides, the labour shortage has also raised a question mark over the plantation of paddy in the coming kharif season in the State.

With wheat harvesting in full swing across the State, the problem for the farmers have further compounded as they were not finding labourers for unloading their crop in the grain markets. “We are not finding any space to unload our crop in the mandi. And if tomorrow rain comes, then our entire crop will damage,” feared a Khanna-based farmer.

The gravity of the situation could also be gauged from the fact that grains are not being lifted from mandis even as Punjab Mandi Board has ordered to charge a levy of 25 paisa per bag per day if the crop is not lifted within 72 hours of arrival.

Contractors pointed out that labourers from Bihar are getting almost same payment in the ongoing infrastructure project in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as they get in Punjab. “That is why the situation of labour shortage has emerged,” a labour contractor said.

Expressing serious concern over labour shortage problem, farmers’ organisation Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) said that State would face serious problems at the time of paddy plantation which would start from June 15.

The Punjab Government has urged the Food Corporation of India to speed up its wheat-lifting movement through a special train so as to ease the situation. “FCI has agreed to our request and it would result in improving the situation to a great extent,” said S.P. Singh, Director, Food and Supplies department. -- PTI

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