Gurpreet Singh :- Farmers’ organisations across Punjab have announced a statewide rail blockade on April 17, intensifying their protest against delays in wheat procurement following recent crop damage caused by unseasonal rains and hailstorms. The call has been jointly given by multiple unions under broader किसान मोर्चा platforms, citing mounting distress among farmers as produce continues to remain unsold in mandis.
According to farmer leaders, the agitation will take place from 12 noon to 3 pm across the state if the government fails to relax procurement norms and ensure immediate lifting of wheat at minimum support prices. They alleged that strict quality parameters, particularly related to moisture content and grain damage, are leading to large-scale rejection or price cuts, leaving farmers with heavy financial losses.
Several prominent किसान संगठनों, including factions aligned with joint farmer fronts and labour groups, have extended support to the protest. Leaders said more unions are expected to join in the coming days, indicating the possibility of a wider mobilisation if demands are not addressed.
Farmers have expressed strong resentment over what they describe as continued neglect, pointing out that repeated crop losses due to adverse weather have not been adequately compensated. They also flagged inadequate infrastructure at procurement centres, including shortages of storage materials and basic facilities, forcing many farmers to spend nights in mandis while waiting for their produce to be purchased.
Union representatives warned that if immediate steps are not taken, the protest could escalate further beyond the planned rail blockade. They urged both the state and central governments to intervene promptly, relax procurement conditions, and ensure timely purchase of wheat to prevent further hardship for the farming community.
Appealing for public support, farmer leaders said the agitation is a matter of survival rather than choice, stressing that prolonged delays in procurement could severely impact rural livelihoods and the broader agricultural economy.
