Paddy procurement to begin in Punjab, Haryana from October 3

Punjab and Haryana governments on Saturday introduced that the procurement of paddy – a significant Kharif crop – will start from October 3, after the Centre acceded to their request. The Centre’s earlier determination to place off procurement until October 11 resulting from latest heavy rains sparked protests by farmers within the two states.

“I’m completely satisfied that the Union Client Affairs Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey has accepted our request, and procurement will begin in Haryana from October 3,” Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who was flanked by his deputy Dushyant Chautala and state Agriculture Minister J P Dalal stated, stated after assembly the central minister in Delhi.

He stated the paddy crop has reached the mandis for buy and, preserving in thoughts the pursuits of all such farmers, Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey was requested to begin the procurement on the earliest.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who had taken up the difficulty throughout his assembly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, stated that farmers can be happy with the choice as it can guarantee easy and hassle-free procurement.

The procurement of Kharif crops – Paddy and Millet- was earlier to begin from October 1, however resulting from heavy rains, the central authorities had postponed the procurement until October 11 because the moisture content material in recent arrivals was past permissible limits.

The choice has irked farmers and plenty of of them protested on Saturday in a number of components of the 2 states, laying siege to the homes of many ministers, MPs and MLAs.

Farmers broke police barricades and confronted water cannons, together with close to Chief Minister Khattar’s home in Karnal.

In Punjab, farmers protested exterior the residences of a number of Congress legislators, together with state meeting Speaker Rana Ok P Singh in Rupnagar and MLA Harjot Kamal in Moga.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella physique of farmer unions that’s spearheading the agitation in opposition to the three central agri legal guidelines, had on Friday had given a name for holding protests exterior the residences of legislators in Punjab and Haryana.

Khattar stated that protests have been held at many locations by farmers demanding an early begin of procurement and the Haryana Authorities additionally believes that the procurement ought to begin on time.

“In order per the demand of the farmers and preserving in thoughts their curiosity, it has now been determined to begin the procurement of paddy from October 3. I hope the farmers will finish their protest now,” Khattar stated.

Punjab and Haryana are essentially the most affected by the stir in opposition to the farm legal guidelines that began in November final 12 months.

The Union Food Ministry had on Friday stated that it had postponed the procurement to guard farmers as sale of paddy with excessive moisture content material induced resulting from premature rains could result in rejection of the grain at shopping for centres and consequent loss to farmers. Paddy samples — checked by regional places of work of state-run Meals Company of India (FCI) at Punjab and Haryana — confirmed paddy in Punjab was having moisture content material of 18 to 22 per cent, whereas in Haryana 18.2-22.7 per cent in opposition to the permissible restrict of 17 per cent, it stated. The paddy crop in each agrarian states was having excessive moisture content material resulting from premature rains within the second fortnight of September that affected the standing kharif crop, it stated. “Accordingly, to save lots of farmers from inconvenience and to guard farmer’s curiosity, Authorities of India determined that procurement of paddy beneath minimal help worth (MSP) operation would begin from October 11, 2021 in Punjab and Haryana and suggested all companies to gear as much as assist farmers,” the ministry had stated in a press release.