Date:30/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/30/stories/2007053015461700.htm

National

Punjab farmers hold back wheat

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: Punjab has procured six lakh tonnes for itself this rabi and its farmers have held back about 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in anticipation of a better price. They feel the support price of Rs. 850 a quintal was much lower than the ruling open market price which is about Rs 1,100 a quintal in the State.

"To enable farmers to get a better price, we are facilitating storage for them at government godowns," Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal told reporters on the sidelines of the NDC meeting.

In fact, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal sought a higher minimum support for foodgrains. He demanded that the basic support price be linked to the price index and then enhanced by 50 per cent if farmers' incomes were to be enhanced and they were to be brought out of the debt trap. The indebtedness of Punjab farmers, both in the formal and informal sector, is estimated to be around Rs 26,000 crore. Mr. Manpreet Badal said one of the demands of the State was that the Centre take up research on the impact of climate change on wheat production.

"Wheat output has been declining by 5 to 7 per cent in the last few years due to rise in temperatures in November and February. Winter season was reducing by 5-10 days every year."