Other States’ Produce Sold Here?

Farmers allege Traders, Middlemen dominating Jowar Procurement Centres

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Allegations of large scale irregularities have surfaced in the ongoing jowar procurement process at the Indervelli Market Yard in Adilabad district, with farmers accusing traders and middlemen of selling produce brought from neighbouring states in the names of local farmers. Genuine cultivators claim they are being forced to wait for days while officials allegedly give priority to trader supplied stocks.

The controversy has triggered anger among farmers across the area, as many who brought their jowar produce according to the official procurement schedule are still waiting for their crops to be weighed and purchased. Farmers alleged that despite toiling for months to cultivate the crop, they are being neglected at government procurement centres.

Procurement of jowar is being carried out by PACS under the supervision of Markfed at the Indervelli Market Yard. However, farmers alleged that agriculture and market department officials are failing to implement the village wise procurement schedule announced earlier. As per the schedule released by officials, jowar brought by farmers from Mamidiguda, Mallapur, Indervelli K and Bhursan Patar villages was to be procured on Monday.

Following the announcement, farmers from the listed villages transported their produce to the market yard expecting smooth procurement. Instead, they alleged that officials allowed traders and middlemen to sell jowar in the names of farmers while genuine cultivators were left waiting.

Farmers claimed that vehicles carrying trader supplied jowar were directly taken for weighing and procurement, whereas stocks brought by farmers on Sunday were still lying unattended by Monday afternoon. Several farmers expressed frustration that authorities were ignoring their complaints and demanded that procurement should strictly follow the official village wise schedule.

“Trader Stocks given Preference”

Sedmaki Bhim Rao, a farmer from Mamidiguda, said he cultivated jowar on three acres during the Rabi season and harvested around 25 quintals. He said officials had informed farmers that produce from Mamidiguda would be procured on Monday, prompting him to bring his crop to the market yard on Sunday evening.

According to him, while trader supplied stocks were immediately weighed and purchased, his produce remained untouched for hours. He alleged that officials at the procurement centre were openly favouring traders and middlemen over genuine farmers.

Farmers waiting since Sunday

Another farmer, Atmaram from Harkapur, said he brought his produce to the market yard after learning that procurement had begun following the District Collector’s directions. However, despite repeatedly approaching officials since Sunday, his crop had not yet been procured. He alleged that even by Monday afternoon, no hamalis had arrived to weigh the produce.

BJP Leaders Demand Immediate Action

BJP leaders who visited the procurement centre demanded that farmers bringing their produce should be given first priority. BJP district vice president Sidam Bhim Rao, Khanapur constituency convener Arelly Rajalingu, mandal president Kendra Balaji and leader Arka Kammu inspected the centre and alleged that traders and middlemen were being encouraged at the expense of actual farmers.

The BJP leaders alleged that traders were purchasing jowar from local farmers at lower prices while also bringing produce from neighbouring states and selling it under the names of local farmers at government procurement centres. They warned that the BJP would launch protests if authorities failed to procure farmers’ produce immediately.

The leaders also said they would meet the District Collector and seek a thorough inquiry into the alleged irregularities to ensure justice for genuine farmers.