<p>Farmer leaders under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) Tuesday held a protest in Mohali against lower than the minimum support prices being offered to growers for maize and moong crops in mandis.</p>.<p>Later, they also held a meeting with Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian in Chandigarh and urged him that the state government should ensure that the farmers get adequate prices for their crops.</p>.<p>Farmer leaders claimed that the growers of maize and 'moong' (green gram) were being "exploited" by private traders in mandis by giving them less than the MSP.</p>.<p>"Farmers are facing losses up to Rs 2,000 per quintal in maize and moong crops. Traders have created a monopoly in mandis and the government is not entering the market (for the purchase of crops)," said farmer leader Darshan Pal.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/148-lakh-farmers-still-facing-cases-registered-during-agitation-against-centres-farm-laws-skm-leader-1227182.html" target="_blank">1.48 lakh farmers still facing cases registered during agitation against Centre's farm laws: SKM leader</a></strong></p>.<p>Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said maize and moong farmers were being "looted" in mandis.</p>.<p>He said that against the MSP of Rs 2,090 per quintal, farmers are getting just Rs 1,400-1,500 per quintal in the market. Lahowal demanded that the government enter the mandis through its agency for the purchase of crops.</p>.<p>He further said that in the case of moong crops, farmers were getting a price which was at least Rs 1,000 less than the MSP of Rs 7,775 a quintal.</p>.<p>Farmers also demanded arrangements for driers in mandis for drying the maize crop.</p>.<p>Darshan Pal said that they also asked the agriculture minister to arrange a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take up this issue with him.</p>.<p>Earlier, farmer leaders of more than 30 farmer outfits in Punjab held a meeting at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali.</p>.<p>Farmer leaders along with other farmers then headed towards the residence of the chief minister in Chandigarh. But police stopped them at the Chandigarh-Mohali border where barricades were put up.</p>.<p>Later, only farmer leaders went to meet the agriculture minister in Chandigarh.</p>.<p>On Monday, Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress criticized the AAP government for not ensuring the procurement of maize and moong at MSP.</p>
<p>Farmer leaders under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) Tuesday held a protest in Mohali against lower than the minimum support prices being offered to growers for maize and moong crops in mandis.</p>.<p>Later, they also held a meeting with Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian in Chandigarh and urged him that the state government should ensure that the farmers get adequate prices for their crops.</p>.<p>Farmer leaders claimed that the growers of maize and 'moong' (green gram) were being "exploited" by private traders in mandis by giving them less than the MSP.</p>.<p>"Farmers are facing losses up to Rs 2,000 per quintal in maize and moong crops. Traders have created a monopoly in mandis and the government is not entering the market (for the purchase of crops)," said farmer leader Darshan Pal.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/148-lakh-farmers-still-facing-cases-registered-during-agitation-against-centres-farm-laws-skm-leader-1227182.html" target="_blank">1.48 lakh farmers still facing cases registered during agitation against Centre's farm laws: SKM leader</a></strong></p>.<p>Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said maize and moong farmers were being "looted" in mandis.</p>.<p>He said that against the MSP of Rs 2,090 per quintal, farmers are getting just Rs 1,400-1,500 per quintal in the market. Lahowal demanded that the government enter the mandis through its agency for the purchase of crops.</p>.<p>He further said that in the case of moong crops, farmers were getting a price which was at least Rs 1,000 less than the MSP of Rs 7,775 a quintal.</p>.<p>Farmers also demanded arrangements for driers in mandis for drying the maize crop.</p>.<p>Darshan Pal said that they also asked the agriculture minister to arrange a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take up this issue with him.</p>.<p>Earlier, farmer leaders of more than 30 farmer outfits in Punjab held a meeting at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali.</p>.<p>Farmer leaders along with other farmers then headed towards the residence of the chief minister in Chandigarh. But police stopped them at the Chandigarh-Mohali border where barricades were put up.</p>.<p>Later, only farmer leaders went to meet the agriculture minister in Chandigarh.</p>.<p>On Monday, Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress criticized the AAP government for not ensuring the procurement of maize and moong at MSP.</p>