INLD seeks procurement of paddy, Bajra

The INLD today asked the Manohal Lal Khattar government to make "necessary arrangements" to procure paddy which has started arriving in the mandis.

In a letter written to Chief Minister, INLD leader and leader of opposition in Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Abhay Chautala said, "early maturing varieties of paddy have started arriving in the Mandis. But there are no arrangements at all for the procurement. While the MSP fixed by the government is Rs 1,510 per quintal but the farmers are forced to sell their paddy produce as low as Rs 1,100 per quintal."

Paddy procurement in Punjab and Haryana generally starts on October 1.
 

Similarly, Bajra produce has also started arriving in the Mandis.

There are about 10 Bajra growing districts in the state including Hisar, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Mahendergarh, Rewari, Palwal, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Jhajjar, Jind and Rohtak, he said.

There is immediate need to make suitable arrangements for procurement so that these farmers are also not forced to sell their Bajra produce below the MSP of Rs 1,330 per quintal, Chautala said.

"I would, therefore, strongly impress upon you that the Govt should immediately make all the necessary arrangements for procurement of the Paddy and Bajra produce at government-approved MSP rates so that farmers are not exploited, as is happening with them now," he said.

"Also, those farmers who have sold their produce under distressing conditions below the Govt-approved MSP should be compensated without any delay," he demanded.