Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 19

Hundreds of farmers, under the banner of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, held protests against the Food Corporation of India (FCI) across the district here today.

The farmers were contesting the new regulation of the FCI, whereby farmers will have to show revenue records of their fields at the time of procurement of food grain. The FCI has already announced to credit the payment directly into the farmers’ bank accounts for the wheat crop arriving in mandis next month.

Earlier, the payment was credited into the account of commission agents (arhtiyas), who would further transfer it to the accounts of respective farmers.

The protesting farmers said that it was evident from the new provision that the Central Government, through the FCI, wanted to harass them. The farmers claimed that in most of the cases, the land records were not updated. So, it would become impossible for farmers to get payment in time.

Harbhajan Singh, union leader, said, “Around 40 percent of farming in the state is tenant farming, therefore, it would be difficult to reach the money in the hands of tenants. Moreover, small farmers don’t have proper land records.”

They submitted a memorandum to the Patiala Deputy Commissioner, SDM Patran and Samana addressed to the Prime Minister for immediate withdrawal of the new FCI regulation.