Rajkot Marketyard chairman Shamjibhai Khunt, who is spearheading the agitation, said vigilante squads were keeping a close watch on almost every village to ensure no consignment of groundnut reaches the yards. He said volunteers would check vehicles.

Civil Supplies Minister Jaspal Singh plans to visit Rajkot on Monday to explain the government position. However, Rajkot Khunt said no representative of farmers had been invited to meet the minister.

Asked if he would attend the Singh's briefing, which is to be held in the evening, were he invited on Monday morning, Khunt said he would first have to consult other farm leaders.

The groundnut oil lobby is expecting Singh to announce some concessions, though millers do not believe the restrictions will be lifted altogether.

Farmers on the other hand are expecting nothing. Their plan for a December 2 rally in Rajkot stands. Leaders said all Singh would do was defend government policy, as he has been since the row began.