Haryana: BKU seeks early paddy procurement to prevent losses

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Sir Chhotu Ram) has urged the government to start paddy procurement from September 15, stressing that timely purchase is essential to prevent losses to farmers. BKU leaders pointed out that several varieties of paddy matured early, and in the absence of procurement, private traders bought the crop at rates lower than the MSP, resulting in financial losses for farmers.

“Some of the paddy varieties mature early, so there is an urgent need for early procurement,” said Bahadur Mehla Baldi, spokesperson of the union.

Jagdeep Aulakh, another farmer leader, said the farmers must get rightful MSP for their produce so that they were not forced to sell under distress.

They also demanded the government to remove mandatory portal conditions for fertiliser distribution and compensation for paddy crops damaged due to ‘dwarf’ disease to be determined through a girdawri.

They are demanding the cleaning of canals and drains to improve irrigation facilities, simplification of tubewell connection procedure, roll back of electricity bills and smart meters, timely procurement of crops with an MSP guarantee, curbs on spurious seeds and pesticides with transparency in distribution.

The farmers will protest at the CM’s residence in Kurukshetra on September 1 in this regard.

“We are highlighting the anti-farmer policies of the government and inviting farmers to attend the protest march. We are getting a good response from the farmers,” Mehla added.