Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, who heads the sub-committee of. Group of Ministers (GOM) formed to ensure the smooth procurement, along with Rural Development & Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond on Wednesday held a meeting with representatives of the commission agents’ association.
The meeting focused on ensuring seamless procurement and addressing the issues faced by commission agents. They were accompanied by Amargarh MLA Prof. Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra, Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat, Khanna Market Committee Chairman Jagtar Singh Gill Ratanheri, Punjab Commission Agents’ Association President Jaswinder Singh Rana, and Khanna Commission Agents’ Association President Harbans Singh Rosha.
Khuddian stated that some of the demands by Commission Agents’ Association representatives pertain to the Punjab Government and will be resolved soon, while those related to the central government will be taken up for resolution. He noted that the Punjab government has approved a 10 percent wage hike within its capacity.
On property tax being imposed for shops not registered in their names, Minister Khuddian clarified that the property belongs to the Mandi Board, and municipal councils cannot impose taxes on it, as agricultural land acquired for markets is exempt from such levies by other authorities. He also addressed the long-pending issue of shop allotments, stating that these would be finalized through a one-time settlement (OTS) to enable smooth market operations.
Regarding the commission agents’ demand for a 2.5 percent commission rate, Khuddian noted that this has to be paid by the procurement agency. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann recently discussed this with the Union Food Minister, who agreed in principle.
Sond urged Agriculture Minister Khuddian to expand the Dahiru grain market adjacent to Khanna and to expedite the construction of link roads to Rahon grain market by the Mandi Board. He noted that for the first time, a sub-committee of four cabinet ministers, chaired by Khuddian, was formed to ensure smooth procurement.
The committee includes Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Transport & Jails Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal. Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat announced that the Punjab government has accepted the labourers’ demand for a 10 percent wage increase.
Hr targeted the central government for withholding Rs 8,000 crore of Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF) and failing to provide flood relief funds for damages from one-and-a-half years ago. He demanded a minimum Rs 25,000 crore package for Punjab to address flood losses and release the RDF.
He also expressed concern that the central government aims to dismantle the mandi system and hand it over to corporations, noting that it lacks data on crop production across states. During the event, the Commission Agents’ Association and Labor Union honoured Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dr. Baljinder Singh Dhillon, District Mandi Officer Gurmat Pal Singh Gill, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Gurdeep Singh, Commission Agents’ Association General Secretary Yadwinder Singh Libbra, along with a large number of commission agents were also present.