Haryana Govt budges, allows UP farmers to sell produce at Karnal border

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, October 2

The state has finally allowed the sale of Uttar Pradesh paddy in Karnal, ending days of uncertainty for farmers. For this, the district administration will establish a temporary purchase centre in Mohidinpur village situated on the Haryana-UP border.

The state government took the decision after the district administration submitted a proposal in this regard.

The marketing board has started re-carpeting a road that leads to the purchase centre, installing lights and constructing toilets. The centre is expected to be functional in a couple of days.

Arhtiyas’ associations have been asked to inform farmers in UP to bring paddy to the makeshift centre after October 5. A schedule in this regard has been released. Besides, registered rice millers have been asked to start procurement.

In its September 30 edition, The Tribune had published a news story “Haryana ban on outside crops negates Centre’s free market policy”, highlighting that farmers of UP who wanted to sell their produce in Karnal and Panipat were stopped by the police.

“To help UP farmers, we are setting up a temporary purchase centre at a stadium in Mohidinpur village. The government has approved our proposal. I visited the site on Friday and directed market committee officials to ensure all facilities there,” said Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav.

Meanwhile, a day after arhtiyas called off their strike, the district witnessed speedy paddy procurement on Friday.

Till evening, around 22,000 MT of paddy was procured out of 40,000 MT that has arrived in 13 purchase centres of the district. Till Thursday evening, only 627 MT was procured.