Despite a prolonged monsoon,paddy arrival and procurement is in full swing at Khanna,one of the oldest grain markets of the state. Compared to last years figure of 9,057 tonnes of paddy coming to this mandi,the arrival was 6,712 tonnes till October 3 this year. The grain market is buzzing with activity with the golden grain lying packed in bags at some places and spread out to dry elsewhere. Farmers are busy guarding their produce and migrant labourers cleaning up the moist paddy. Till Monday,commission agents had not bought a single grain for the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The scene may be different from Tuesday,with the government accepting the arhtiyas demand against direct payment to farmers. We have cleaned our paddy and dried it up. We know it will be picked up at the first glance. It does not bother me if arhtiyas are not buying paddy for the FCI,for anyone can buy my crop, said Himmat Singh,a farmer from the nearby Ahmedgarh village.
