Explained: How commission agents misuse MSP regime to pocket farmer benefits in Punjab

The Union government's stand on MSP payments has compelled the Congress-ruled Punjab government to adopt Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), but a six-month exemption to digitise land records remains a concern as this has resulted in misuse of the MSP regime.

Wheat procurement has kicked off in Punjab after the commission agents (arhtiyas) called off their strike on April 10 following an understanding with the Punjab government. Despite the Union government's decision to release the MSP payments directly to the bank accounts of farmers and bypass the agents, the Congress-ruled Punjab government has kept them in the loop by making suitable changes in the procurement software. The payments may not be routed through the arhtiyas, but they will get information that the farmer concerned has been paid. All this has been done to ensure that they recover the money paid in advance to the farmers.