the effect of farmers’ protest
The procurement of paddy, the main Kharif crop in Punjab and Haryana, will start from today i.e. October 3. Both the states gave this information on Saturday. The states said that the central government has accepted their request in this regard. Earlier, the Center had postponed the procurement of paddy till October 11 due to heavy rains. It was strongly opposed by the farmers of both the states. After this the Center changed the decision.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal said on Saturday that Union Consumer Affairs Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey has accepted our request. The procurement will now start from October 3. Farmers demonstrated at many places. The Haryana government is also of the view that procurement should start on time. Manohar Lal gave this information after a meeting with the Union Minister. He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and State Agriculture Minister JP Dalal. He said that the paddy crop has reached the mandis. Keeping in view the interests of the farmers, Ashwini Choubey was requested to start the procurement at the earliest.
Ashwini Choubey tweeted, ‘A delegation was received at Krishi Bhawan on Saturday under the leadership of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal for the purchase of paddy. Paddy procurement is starting from October 3 in Haryana and Punjab. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government is always ready for the interest of farmers.
- order issued
The Center has issued orders to start paddy procurement in Punjab and Haryana from October 3. In a letter sent by an official of the Union Food Ministry to the governments of Punjab and Haryana, it has been decided to start procurement of paddy for the 2021-22 Kharif marketing season in the states of Haryana and Punjab from October 3. Paddy should be procured as per the prescribed FAQ (suitable and average quality) norms for the 2021-22 kharif marketing season.
- Channi raised the issue with the PM
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. He said that this decision would bring relief to the farmers and ensure smooth procurement without any hindrance. The procurement of Kharif crops paddy and bajra was earlier to start from October 1, but due to heavy rains, the Center had announced to postpone it till October 11. The Center said that the moisture content in the new arrivals is more than the permissible limit. The farmers were quite dissatisfied with this decision. Testing of paddy samples by the public sector Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Punjab and Haryana revealed that the moisture content in paddy in Punjab ranged from 18 to 22 per cent. Whereas in Haryana it is 18.2 to 22.7 percent. The permissible limit of moisture content in paddy is 17 per cent.
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