Chandigarh: Farmers of Punjab and Haryana are agitated for the minimum support price (MSP), while the farmers of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are forced to sell their paddy produce at prices lower than the MSP. By purchasing cheap paddy from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the commission agents of Punjab are making huge profits by paying crores of rupees to the government.

During the last two days, 8225 tonnes of paddy being brought illegally from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been recovered in Patiala. 13 FIRs have been registered in these cases, 20 people have been arrested and 32 vehicles have been seized. The MSP of paddy in Punjab is Rs 1888 per quintal. Whereas farmers of Bihar, UP are forced to sell paddy at Rs 900 to 1000 per quintal.

These profiteering commission agents buy paddy at the rate of Rs 900 to 1000 per quintal in Bihar UP and Jharkhand, then spend 150 to 160 rupees per quintal to bring this paddy to Punjab. Their maximum cost in bringing a quintal of paddy to Punjab is Rs 12. By selling this paddy here, these commission agents are making a profit of Rs 600 to 700 per 100 kg of paddy by selling Rs 1888 per quintal, while the grain growing farmer is getting Rs 900 to 1000 only.

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