DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking continuance of the existing system of payment to farmers for crop procurement till a consensus is evolved on the issue of direct benefit transfer. Presently, the payment to farmers is being made through "arhtiyas" (commission agents) in Punjab. Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal had written to the state government on March 27, asking it to implement direct payment to farmers. The CM said any reform, including direct payment to farmers, should be first discussed with all stakeholders. "Any sudden changes that disturbs the existing arrangements may jeopardise the procurement operations, thereby not only affecting the food security of the nation but also threatening the livelihood of millions of farmers, farm-workers and even traders," he said. The CM asserted that "arhtiyas" are not middlemen between farmers and the procurement agencies but are service providers, according to a government statement. He urged the PM to ensure that the livelihood of farmers and all others involved in the smooth procurement of foodgrains is not jeopardised. The CM also sought a meeting with the PM to apprise him about concerns of various stakeholders about changing the existing payment system "before the situation gets out of hand". On behalf of the Punjab government, he assured Modi of his complete support towards evolving a consensus amongst the stakeholders for long-term durable reforms. Expressing concern over recent efforts to "rock" the legally sanctioned and well-established institutional and social arrangements through some guidelines and directives of the Centre, the CM said he had noticed a pattern in some of the recent "one-sided decisions and steps". He added that as a soldier and a farmer himself, he would like to highlight the risks and threats that are likely to be posed for the food security of the nation as a result of some of these decisions for being "completely detached from ground realities of farming in this part of the country". Recalling the role of farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Western UP in ushering in the green revolution and ensuring food security, he said security systems and defences are built over decades but can be compromised and demolished in moments. (editor@dailyworld.in)