Commission agents, who procure paddy, pay less than the MSP. There is no moisture testing or correct weighment. Is there a nexus all round?
It is widely perceived that MSP operations in Haryana are quite effective and farmers there are a happy lot. But the reality is quite different. In the last paddy season, many farmers in Karnal’s Taraori, the largest grain mandi in Haryana, got only Rs.1,750/quintal against the Minimum Support Price of Rs.1,815/quintal.
BusinessLine’s investigation into the issue revealed a few shocking facts. One, across mandis in Karnal (indeed, entire Haryana), the FCI does not procure directly from farmers but through commission agents. Two, the commission agents, arhatiyas, usually do not give a proper bill to farmers; they give only a kachi parchi. Three, there is no moisture-testing of the paddy.
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