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NEW DELHI: The Centre on Saturday ordered to start paddy procurement in Punjab and Haryana from Sunday (October 3), barely three days after it had announced to postpone the procurement till October 11 “in the interest of farmers” due to recent heavy rains. The decision came after protests by farmers in Punjab and Haryana against the Centre’s earlier decision.
In its order, the food ministry said the government decided to start paddy procurement from Sunday in the two states. Earlier, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, his deputy Dushyant Chautala and Union minister Ashwini Choubey had a meeting in Delhi after massive protests erupted outside the CM’s home in Karnal district.
“As per the decision taken, the Haryana government has assured that paddy procurement will start from tomorrow (Sunday). They have made everything ready. Procurement in Punjab is already in process. From tomorrow, both states will begin buying,” Choubey said. The Haryana CM said, “Due to delay in monsoon’s retreat, the central government had postponed start of procurement of paddy and millet from October 1 to 11 this year. There are demands for an early start. The procurement will start tomorrow (Sunday).”
Yogendra Yadav of Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of farm unions protesting against the farms laws at Delhi borders, claimed it to be a “victory” for the farmers.
On Thursday, the ministry had issued a statement saying, “Keeping in view the interest of farmers and to avoid any inconvenience to them, the department of food and public distribution has decided that procurement of paddy under MSP would commence from October 11 in Punjab and Haryana.”
It had claimed that due to recent heavy downpour in the two states, the maturity of paddy crop had been delayed and the high moisture content may lead to rejection of the grain at the buying centres causing losses to farmers. But the decision irked farmers and many of them protested on Saturday in several parts of the two states, laying siege to the houses of many ministers, MPs and MLAs.
Procurement for kharif marketing season 2021-22 was to start in Punjab from October 1 and Haryana on September 25.
In its order, the food ministry said the government decided to start paddy procurement from Sunday in the two states. Earlier, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, his deputy Dushyant Chautala and Union minister Ashwini Choubey had a meeting in Delhi after massive protests erupted outside the CM’s home in Karnal district.
“As per the decision taken, the Haryana government has assured that paddy procurement will start from tomorrow (Sunday). They have made everything ready. Procurement in Punjab is already in process. From tomorrow, both states will begin buying,” Choubey said. The Haryana CM said, “Due to delay in monsoon’s retreat, the central government had postponed start of procurement of paddy and millet from October 1 to 11 this year. There are demands for an early start. The procurement will start tomorrow (Sunday).”
Yogendra Yadav of Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of farm unions protesting against the farms laws at Delhi borders, claimed it to be a “victory” for the farmers.
On Thursday, the ministry had issued a statement saying, “Keeping in view the interest of farmers and to avoid any inconvenience to them, the department of food and public distribution has decided that procurement of paddy under MSP would commence from October 11 in Punjab and Haryana.”
It had claimed that due to recent heavy downpour in the two states, the maturity of paddy crop had been delayed and the high moisture content may lead to rejection of the grain at the buying centres causing losses to farmers. But the decision irked farmers and many of them protested on Saturday in several parts of the two states, laying siege to the houses of many ministers, MPs and MLAs.
Procurement for kharif marketing season 2021-22 was to start in Punjab from October 1 and Haryana on September 25.
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