Delay in payment for Jowar procurement alleged

Metro India News | JUKKAL

Farmers in Jukkal mandal have alleged that they are yet to receive payments for jowar sold at government procurement centres nearly two months ago, causing financial hardship. They have urged the authorities to expedite the release of pending payments and address other issues affecting agricultural marketing. Farmers across Kamareddy district say they are struggling to secure remunerative prices for their agricultural produce despite rising cultivation costs. They point out that increasing expenses on transportation, labour, seeds, fertilisers and pesticides have significantly raised the cost of farming, while market prices remain low.

According to farmers, they face several challenges after bringing their produce to market, including deductions in price on the grounds of quality, alleged irregularities in weighing, and delays in receiving payments. Some farmers also claim that the dominance of commission agents in certain markets prevents them from obtaining fair prices for their produce. They also point out the steady increase in input costs has made agriculture increasingly expensive. Many have reportedly borrowed money to finance cultivation and are now facing financial stress due to delayed payments and low returns on their crops.

Farmer organisations have called on the government to ensure the effective implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers in Jukkal mandal, curb the role of middlemen, and improve transparency in agricultural markets. Recently, a group of 16 farmers from Longan village visited the local cooperative society office to raise concerns over the alleged irregularities in procurement and payment. Society officials reportedly assured the farmers that they would examine the issue and take steps to resolve the pending problems, following which the farmers dispersed.

However, farmers expressed dissatisfaction over having to make repeated visits to government offices to seek updates on payments. They also alleged that transport contractors wield excessive influence in the procurement process, leaving cultivators without adequate support or timely compensation for their produce. The farmers have demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged irregularities and urged the government to take strict action against those found responsible while ensuring that pending procurement payments are released without further delay.