Farmers gherao Market Committee office in Sirsa, seek fair price for paddy

Dr Sukhdev Singh Jammu alleged that the farmers were being forced to sell paddy at prices below the government rate because procurement agencies were not reaching the mandis on time. As a result, private buyers were purchasing their produce at lower prices, he said.

Jammu also alleged irregularities in moisture testing and weighing. He said the farmers were facing unnecessary difficulties due to digital data entry on the portal and restrictions on procurement based on per-acre yield. He accused traders and some commission agents of taking advantage of the farmers while market committee officials failed to act.

They also said despite the government orders to use computerised weighing scales, other weighing methods were still being used in the mandis. They demanded that all mandis had properly functioning government weighing scales.

The protesters urged the Haryana Government to ensure timely procurement by the government agencies and stop alleged irregularities in mandis. They also demanded that the farmers whose paddy had been purchased below Rs 2,461 per quintal be compensated for the price difference.

Chaos in Fatehabad over paddy, Bajra buying

Farmers locked the main gate of the Market Committee office on Bhattu Road on Wednesday to protest alleged irregularities in paddy and bajra procurement, below-MSP prices and delays in lifting crops. The protest, held from 11 am to 2 pm on the call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha Haryana, was led by Karamjit Singh Salmkhera. The farmers demanded the removal of the 28-quintal-per-acre limit on paddy procurement, an end to alleged four per cent deductions and guaranteed purchases at the minimum support price (MSP). They said they were forced to wait in the open to protect their crops, while their procurement-related concerns remained unresolved.

Farmers locked the Bhuna Market Committee office for two hours on Wednesday over delays in paddy procurement. Zila Parishad CEO Suresh Kumar assured them that every grain would be purchased, following which the farmers reopened the office. Trade leaders blamed poor arrangements for forcing farmers to sell produce at low prices.