EXPLAINER:Farmers call for early paddy procurement to prevent losses

Farmers, under the banner of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU-Sir Chhotu Ram), have urged the Haryana Government to start paddy procurement from September 15 instead of October 1.The union argued that timely procurement was imperative to prevent heavy financial losses for farmers.Why are farmers demanding early procurement?Farmers have demanded that the state government begin the official paddy procurement process from September 15.The demand has been raised as many paddy varieties mature early, and, if government procurement does not start on time, farmers will be forced to sell their produce to private traders at prices below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). They say early procurement would ensure that they receive fair and assured prices for their produce.Why is early procurement important for farmers?Government procures ‘parmal’ varieties of rice on MSP. According to farmers, timely procurement would mean that farmers could sell their paddy crop directly to government agencies at the declared MSP, safeguarding them from exploitation.If procurement was delayed, they had no option but to sell to private traders, who would purchase the paddy before the official procurement at throwaway prices, farmers added.They said early procurement also helped free up fields for the next crop cycle — especially for wheat or mustard.Which paddy varieties mature early?The variety PR-126 of ‘parmal’ — which has been cultivated on a large area this season by potato and vegetable growers too — and some hybrid strains mature around mid-September. Farmers cultivating these early-maturing crops face the brunt of late procurement, as their produce cannot be stored for long due to lack of infrastructure and high moisture content.Who fixes the MSP?The MSP is the guaranteed rate at which government agencies buy crop from farmers. The MSP is fixed by the Union Government on the recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), a part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.What is Haryana’s current procurement schedule?Traditionally, paddy procurement in Haryana starts from October 1. The state government aligns the schedule with Central guidelines to ensure uniformity and to reduce the procurement of high-moisture grains. However, farmer unions argue that climate conditions and crop cycles are changing, and many varieties are ready for harvesting in September. Farmers have cited the case of Punjab, which has declared September 15 as the start date for the paddy procurement process.n How does early procurement benefit the government?Early procurement not only supports farmers but also stabilises the grain supply chain. It reduces hoarding and black marketing, ensures better stock management for the Public Distribution System (PDS), and minimises farmer protests or unrest. Besides, it improves trust between farmers and the government.Did the farmers raise the demand earlier too?Farmer unions, including the BKU, have consistently been raising the issue over the years. With changing crop cycles and the availability of short-duration paddy varieties, the demand for pre-procurement has grown stronger. On several occasions, the government had preponed of the procurement of paddy.What moisture-related issues does early-maturing crop face?As per the moisture norms set by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), paddy harvested in mid-September usually contains moisture levels beyond the permissible limit of 17 per cent, leading to storage and quality issues.What could be the way forward?Experts suggest a middle ground: The government can start procurement from September 15 in selected districts where early-maturing paddy is grown. Moisture testing facilities at procurement centres to ensure fair evaluation; and awareness campaigns for farmers on drying techniques to meet moisture norms have also been proposed by experts.What other demands are the farmers raising?Farm leaders have demanded that the government remove mandatory portal conditions for fertiliser distribution; and the compensation for paddy crops damaged due to ‘dwarf’ disease be determined through a special girdawari.They have also called for the cleaning of canals and drains to improve irrigation facilities; simplification of the tubewell connection procedure; rollback of electricity bills and smart meters; timely procurement of crops with an MSP guarantee; and curbs on spurious seeds and pesticides, with transparency in distribution.To press for these demands, farmers are set to protest in front of the CM’s residence in Kurukshetra on September 1.

EXPLAINER:Farmers call for early paddy procurement to prevent losses

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

EXPLAINER:Farmers call for early paddy procurement to prevent losses

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Unlock Premium Insights in This Article