Low wheat output: Farmers meet Patil

The Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA) on Tuesday demanded bonus to compensate farmers for fall in wheat output. In this regard,CIFA submitted a memorandum — addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh — to Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil. “As per reports,wheat production has fallen by up to 30 per cent in Punjab and Haryana owing to inclement weather conditions in February and March. This amounts to 5 to 6 qunitals an acre. Farmers will suffer loss of over Rs 7,000 per acre. On behalf of farmers,CIFA requests the Union government to compensate farmers through a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal as a gesture for ensuring food security of the nation,” CIFA president Satnam Singh Behru said.