Farmers Stage Road Blockade in Fatehabad Over Wheat Procurement Woes
In a significant demonstration of frustration, farmers in Fatehabad district organized a road blockade and sit-in protest on Thursday. The agitation was sparked by severe disruptions in the government wheat procurement process at the Nanheri grain market in Kulan, with participants citing persistent glitches in the biometric system and a critical shortage of storage space.
Protest Disrupts Traffic and Highlights Systemic Issues
Angered by the inability to generate essential gate passes, the protesting farmers blocked the busy Kulan-Ratia main road, bringing traffic to a standstill. Commuters were forced to seek alternative rural routes, causing widespread inconvenience. The farmers raised loud slogans against the government, underscoring their dissatisfaction with the procurement system during the peak season.
According to the farmers, the newly implemented biometric system for issuing gate passes was riddled with technical failures, effectively halting procurement operations. This technological breakdown compounded their existing grievances, as they also faced an acute unavailability of storage space in the grain market to store their wheat harvests.
Official Intervention and Resolution Efforts
Upon receiving information about the protest, market committee secretary Sandeep Kasaniya arrived at the scene in an attempt to pacify the demonstrators. However, the farmers remained steadfast in their demands, prompting further action from higher authorities.
Later, Tohana Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Akash Sharma also reached the location and engaged in detailed discussions with the protesters. Addressing their concerns, SDM Sharma explained that the biometric system had recently been transitioned to an online platform and assured that the process would stabilize shortly.
To tackle the storage crisis, he immediately coordinated with commission agents and arranged for wheat to be stored at designated locations and rice mills. Sharma further guaranteed that starting Friday, farmers would be permitted to transport their produce directly to rice mills, where staff would be deployed to issue gate passes on-site, streamlining the procedure.
Protest Concludes After Assurances
Following these assurances from the SDM, the farmers decided to call off their protest after nearly three hours of agitation. Police personnel were present throughout the event to maintain law and order, ensuring the demonstration remained peaceful. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in agricultural procurement systems and the urgent need for reliable infrastructure to support farmers during critical harvest periods.
