Providing significant relief to farmers in Uttar Pradesh, the government has taken a crucial decision regarding wheat procurement. Farmers will now be able to sell their produce at government procurement centers even without online registration. An official statement issued on Monday stated that the ‘Kisan Registry’—a digital process for farmer identification and crop verification—will no longer be mandatory. According to a report by PTI, this decision was taken keeping in mind the difficulties being faced by farmers. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed all District Magistrates to implement this order with immediate effect.
Forced to Sell Wheat to Middlemen at Low Prices
In fact, earlier this year, the ‘Kisan Registry’ had been made mandatory for selling wheat at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). However, a large number of farmers were unable to register; consequently, they were deprived of the opportunity to sell their produce at government centers and were compelled to sell their wheat to middlemen at lower prices. Taking cognizance of this issue faced by farmers, the Chief Minister intervened and relaxed the regulations. Under the new order, farmers will now be able to sell their wheat at government procurement centers without registration, just as they did previously.
Farmers Must Not Face Any Inconvenience
The Chief Minister also clarified that farmers should not face any inconvenience whatsoever at the procurement centers. Given the scorching heat, instructions have been issued to ensure adequate arrangements for drinking water, fans, shade, and other essential amenities. According to data from the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, as of 11:00 AM on April 20, more than 2.38 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have been procured from over 42,000 farmers across the state. So far, more than 4.77 lakh farmers have registered to sell their wheat, while over 5,400 procurement centers have been established throughout the state.
This decision by the government is proving to be a farsighted step for the farmers. It will not only accelerate and simplify the entire wheat procurement process but is also expected to lead to a rapid increase in procurement figures in the coming days. This will ensure that the maximum number of farmers benefit, and the state’s wheat procurement volume may even surpass its set targets.
