Hubballi (Karnataka), April 17 (NationPress) Farmers in Hubballi, Karnataka, are enduring significant challenges due to an inadequate supply of gunny bags for the procurement of chickpeas at support price centers. This shortage has incited widespread frustration among farmers, who assert that administrative oversights are hindering purchases and jeopardizing their crops.

Recently, amidst persistent protests, the government initiated the procurement of groundnuts at the support price in the district. However, similar efforts for chickpeas have encountered logistical problems, with procurement centers lacking the necessary empty sacks to store the harvest.

Consequently, numerous heaps of chickpeas remain exposed outside the procurement centers. In many instances, farmers have had to resort to using old burlap sacks from their homes to package their produce, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

Official records indicate that 23,393 farmers are registered across 36 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society centers for chickpea procurement. Yet, only 6,400 have successfully sold their produce to date, with approximately 114,078 quintals procured by March 24. Farmers claim that around 60% of their harvest is still outside procurement centers due to delays and insufficient storage arrangements.

Farmer leader Heman Gowda condemned the authorities for their “irresponsible approach”, expressing that farmers who worked hard under strenuous conditions are now left waiting indefinitely for procurement. Another farmer, Shivananda, mentioned that the lack of gunny bags has halted the entire process, leaving growers in distress.

Moreover, farmers expressed concerns that unseasonal rains could severely damage their piled-up harvest. "If it rains, the entire crop will be compromised. We are compelled to wait in front of procurement centers for days," warned farmer Chennappa Gowda.

In Dharwad district, procurement data indicates disparities among taluks. While Navalgund has seen the highest purchases, Hubli taluk has reported minimal procurement. For example, only 72 quintals were procured at the Koliwada No. 2 center in Hubli taluk, in stark contrast to 262 quintals at Hebballi in Dharwad taluk.

Farmers have also raised complaints that, even after a month of registration, many have yet to be called to deliver their produce to procurement yards. In some instances, cooperative societies have not collected the filled bags that farmers have already deposited.

With a majority of farmers having cultivated crops through loans, the delays in procurement have intensified financial strain, prompting many to contemplate distress sales in the open market at reduced prices.

Farmers are urging the government to swiftly supply sufficient gunny bags and enhance procurement operations to avert further losses and hardships.