Farmers in the Mansa region block a road in protest at the slow wheat procurement process

The Boha-Budhlada major road was stopped today by farmers enraged at the slow buying of wheat at the Boha grain market, resulting in lengthy lines of cars on both sides of the street. Protesters chanted anti-state government chants.

Additionally, they intimidated Baljit Singh, the District Food Supply Officer, at the Boha Market Committee headquarters.

The farmers have been going to the mandis for the past seven days, but their wheat produce is not being purchased under the excuse of having too much moisture, according to state vice-president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) Baba Prashotam Singh Gill, farmer leader Balwinder Singh Mall Singh Wala, leaders of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Dakuda) Balwant Singh, Gurjit Singh Fauzi, and former sarpanch Gulab Singh.

He said that there was an issue with the devices used to measure the moisture content. Farmers were reassured by market committee chairman Ranjit Singh of prompt procurement, but they persisted in demanding a reduction of the existing moisture content regulations.

Afterwards, DFSO Baljit Singh gave the farmers the assurance that they would bring the matter to the attention of the Deputy Commissioner and department authorities in order to find a workable solution. He insisted that he was unable to provide any exemption in the moisture requirements at this time.

Following the breakdown of negotiations with DFSO Baljit Singh, the farmers blocked the market committee office and held a dharna on the road.