Paddy procurement in Punjab and Haryana to start from tomorrow

Due to delay in monsoon, Central Govt had postponed start of procurement of paddy and millet, says Haryana CM

Amid protests in Punjab and Haryana over the delay in paddy procurement, Centre on Saturday said that the procurement will start from tomorrow in both the states.

The procurement (of Kharif crops) will start from October 3 in Haryana as well as Punjab, said Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution in Delhi.

"Due to delay in monsoon, Central Govt had postponed start of procurement of paddy and millet to October 11 from October 1 this year. There are demands for an early start. The procurement will start tomorrow," said Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar after meeting Choubey. Soon after Centre's announcement, Samyukt Kisan Morcha announced withdrawal of demonstrations to demand early start of procurement of Kharif crops.

Earlier in the day, protestors broke barricades and gathered outside the residence of Khattar in Karnal after paddy procurement got delayed. Police used water cannons against farmers outside Khattar's residence.

The Central government on Friday announced that procurement of paddy under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operation would commence from October 11 in Punjab and Haryana and has advised all the agencies to gear up to help farmers.

According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, widespread rainfall has been experienced across Punjab and Haryana during the second fortnight of September and untimely showers have affected the standing paddy crop in both the agrarian states.

Widespread rainfall has been experienced across Punjab and Haryana during the second fortnight of September and untimely showers have affected the standing paddy crop in both the agrarian states, the ministry said.

"The maximum temperature at most of the places has also been recorded below normal due to the downpour. Because of the untimely rains, the maturity of paddy grains is delayed. As per Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data, rainfall during September is 77 per cent and 139 per cent above normal in Punjab and Haryana respectively," read the release from the ministry.

"On the basis of moisture content check by FCI's regional offices at Punjab and Haryana, it was reported that paddy samples are having moisture ranging from 18 per cent to 22 per cent in Punjab and 18.2 per cent to 22.7 per cent in Haryana against the permissible limit of 17 per cent," it read.