Farms body hails opening of two paddy procurement centers ;Demands to open three others

Himachal Kisan Sabha hailed the decision of opening of two paddy procurement centers by Food Corporation of India at Riyali in Fatehpur,  and Toda in Indora in Kangra district.
State President of Kisan Sabha, Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar said in a press statement here today that this is the outcome of recent struggle, pressure and solidarity of the farmers of the Mand area to open FCI procurement center for paddy season which is opined first time  in the state.  .

Dr Tanwar  said that Kissan Sabha believes that although the number of procurement centers are still less however it would further press for total 5 procurement centers in this area.
Opening of two procurement centers has definitely brought some relief to the farmers, he said that 
on September 20, a big public meeting of farmers was held in Riyali, Fatehpur, in which  farmers raised the demand for making proper arrangement for buying paddy crops.
”To  extended this facility to other farmers in the state procurement centers should be open in Malkana, Tanda (Kathgarh) and Bhograwan of this area.  There has already been a lot of delay in buying grains from the farmers,  procurement should be started with effect from October 10.” Dr Tanwar said.
Dr. Tanwar said decisions likely to help the around 5000 farmer households in about 25 Panchayats of Fatehpur and Indora in Mand area benefiting around 25 to 30 thousand population. 
Farmers of this region grow mainly paddy, wheat, sugarcane as cash crops in this area of spread around 35 km.  About 1.5 lakh quintals of paddy is produced in the area, which was sold in the markets or mandis of Punjab for almost 4 decades, Dr Tanwar said that this time Punjab refused to buy Himachal’s paddy due to which farmers were left with no option to sell their crops. 
Due to this concern farmers of Mand belt gathered in Riyali on September 20 and on the suggestion of Himachal Kisan Sabha formed ‘Mand Kisan Samyukt Sangharsh Samiti’ to press  their demands with the government and department effectively . 

On Sep. 21, members of the committee met Deputy Commissioner Kangra  Dr. Nipun Jindal. as the matter did not move forward despite positive assurances from DC , the farmers again organized a Kissan Mahapanchayat in Riyali on October 2 and reiterated their demands.  This created pressure on the government and administration.
Dr. Tanwar extended the thanks to Deputy Commissioner Kangra, Dr. Nipun Jindal and Director of Food and Supplies Corporation, K.C. Chaman for their positive attitude and also  congratulated the farmers for their solidarity.
Congratulating Mand Kisan Samyukta Sangharsh Samiti of Fatehpur for the successfully movementHKS said that after achieving this success farmers would not hesitate to adopt the path of agitation