This Article is From May 13, 2010

Punjab: Good harvest but no place to store it

Sirhind, Punjab:
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Free from harvesting Palvinder Singh is a happy man. This year his wheat harvest was up to his expectation and as a gesture of thanks giving, he, along with other farmers of a village near Sirhind are offering sweet water to people. He says this year his input cost was less and output more, which means he has made a profit of more than Rs 10,000 from his one acre land holding. (Read: Punjab: Foodgrain rots, farmers helpless)

"It is because of unexpected heat, which had little affect but still we are happy we have earned profit more or less production in Punjab is good," says Palvinder Singh.

Amidst all the celebration, there is one prime worry, where will all this grain be stored?

An estimated 60 lakh million tonnes of wheat is still out in the open covered with plastic sheets. Experts believe, wheat in the open cannot last for more than one year and Food Corporation of India needs to create more covered storage space for wheat which is rotting. (Read: Food grain rots in Punjab as prices soar)

Transporter, Rashpal Singh says, "Government is sending fresh wheat crop out of state but old stock is still lying in the open which is not good. Storage is a big problem, they don't have space to store. They should send it."

It may have been another good year as far as wheat production in Punjab is concerned but the real problem is of storage. The real worry: what will happen to food grains stored in the open after a year.

Also read:Pawar promises action after report on wasted wheat

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