Farmers in Hisar forced to sell paddy below MSP despite govt assurances

Despite the Haryana Government’s assurance of providing minimum support price (MSP) for crops like paddy, farmers in the Hisar and Fatehabad regions are being forced to sell their produce below the official MSP rate.

Ramesh Nambardar, a farmer from Kanoh village in Hisar district, sold his paddy produce of 252 quintals from about eight acres to a rice mill in Fatehabad for Rs 2,100 per quintal. This price is below the Centre’s fixed MSP of Rs 2,320 per quintal. In addition to the lower price, rice millers and arhtiyas (middlemen) are also deducting two kilograms per quintal for cleaning.

Nambardar mentioned that his produce met the moisture content specification of 17% and was of good quality, but he had no choice but to sell below the MSP as there were no buyers in the grain market willing to pay the government-fixed rate. “Though my crop details were uploaded on the Mera Fasal Mera Byora portal, no action was taken. In Uklana mandi, farmers had to block the road for two days just to press for the start of procurement,” he said, highlighting the lack of attention from authorities.

Suresh, a farmer from Munshiwali village in Fatehabad district, shared a similar plight. He sold 31 quintals of paddy at Rs 2,250 per quintal, Rs 70 below the MSP, in Ratia grain market. He too suffered an additional loss due to the two-kilogram deduction per quintal.

However, Paramjit Singh, secretary of the Market Committee in Ratia, insisted that paddy was being sold at the MSP. “If any arhtiya is caught purchasing paddy below the MSP, they will face action, and their licence could be cancelled,” he warned.

On the other hand, Anil Gorchhi, an activist from the Pagri Sambhal Jatta Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, alleged that the MSP is only being offered on paper. “Paddy farmers are being forced to sell below the MSP. Other kharif crops like moong and bajra are also not being procured by the agencies. What’s the point of announcing an MSP if it’s not implemented?”