Gopal Rai accuses FCI of procuring from farmers below MSP

Delhi Agriculture Minister Gopal Rai on Friday slammed the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for not paying the minimum support price while procuring wheat from farmers. Following an inspection at the Narela Mandi, Rai further slammed the FCI officials for not attending the review meeting.

"For the last few days, farmers have been complaining that the FCI has not started procurement of crops on MSP in Narela mandi. On the contrary, the FCI had claimed that the procurement was started from April 1. After asking for a report from the mandi, we got to know that there was no counter here," he said.

"One official said that a counter was put up in the godown. We asked if the procurement is on, he replied 'no'. Every year, the procurement process is conducted in the mandi. It is unfortunate that the farmers were being harassed this time." His revelations come when the farmers have been protesting against the three contentious farm laws for over a hundred days now.

"I request the Centre that the farmers should not be harassed. There should be a counter in the mandi where government officials will sit for verification so that the farmers will not have to run here and there, and they get the MSP. On Monday, I will call senior FCI officials for a meeting," he added.

Rai had requested the Centre to direct the FCI to put up counters in Narela and Najafgarh markets to procure wheat from farmers on MSP on April 7.