SIALKOT, May 5: Growers of Sialkot and Narowal districts have strongly protested against the acute shortage of gunny bags and ‘unending’ hurdles created by the food department ‘black sheep’ in connivance with middlemen and sub-contractor in the sale of wheat.

A large number of growers told newsmen on Monday that the food department officials at Sialkot, Daska, Bhopalwala, Sambrial, Satrah, Pasrur, Chawinda, Badiana, Shakargarh, Zafarwal, Baddomalhi and Narowal, were giving gunny bags only to those growers whose names were recommended by Nazims, MPAs and MNAs. Due to non-availability of gunny bags, the poor wheat growers were suffering badly.

They said due to the corrupt food officials, middlemen and sub-contractors, the poor growers have to sell their produce even at official procurement centres at the rate of Rs270 to Rs275 per maund instead of support price of Rs300 per maund.

A farmer, Afzal Niazi, said he had been visiting the offices of Sialkot food department to get gunny bags for the last 10 days but could not get any bag because he had no recommendation of any Nazim, MPA or MNA.

He said he had no way but to sell his produce at Rs280 per maund in stead of support price of Rs300.

The growers said the government had failed to check the corruption of food department officials.

A group of growers from Pasrur and Shakargarh tehsils feared that they might suffer loss if rain came because their produce was lying in the open.

They said more than 500,000 gunny bags were required in Shakargarh tehsil whereas the food department provided only 170,000 bags at official wheat procurement centres.

When contacted, assistant food controller Rohail Butt denied that there was any shortage of bags.

He said if any employee was found involved in malpractice, he would be dealt with sternly.

Meanwhile, Anjuman Kashtkaran president Syed Iqbal Shah and Punjab Farmers Rights Commission chairman Mirza Ehsan Baig, in their separate statements urged the Punjab government to take serious notice of shortage of gunny bags and take steps to save the poor growers from the clutches of corrupt food department officials and middlemen.