Hit by weather, hurt by mandis, farmers of Haryana lose twice

Farmers in Haryana have been facing a double whammy this kharif season: after heavy rains ravaged their crop, a number of farmers are now being forced to sell their produce — paddy, bajra, cotton, and moong — at throwaway prices to private traders.

While the state government has pledged to purchase every grain of farmers’ produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), the ground reality tells a different story.

Procurement agencies and arhtiyas (commission agents) blame “poor and substandard” quality of produce for sales below MSP. Officials of the Food and Supplies Department said the procurement of bajra and moong had not started yet, because much of the grain was discoloured and of poor quality. Similarly, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has not begun its procurement drive, citing substandard quality and high moisture content in the crop.

Ramandeep, a farmer from Kirtan village, said: “Government agencies are not purchasing cotton, so we have no option but to sell it to private traders at throwaway prices.” The Centre has fixed an MSP of Rs 7,860 per quintal for cotton of the 27 MM quality and Rs 8,910 per quintal for the superior 28 MM quality.

Notably, Haryana has around 3.8 lakh hectares under cotton cultivation.

Ginning mills are offering significantly lower prices, leaving farmers with little choice. Growers are now resorting to selling at distress rates.

Paddy farmers, too, are struggling to receive MSP due to various irregularities in procurement.

Growers bringing their produce to the Uklana mandi in Hisar have alleged that government agencies and rice mills are colluding to deduct Rs 200-Rs 300 per quintal under the “pretext” of moisture content.

Irregularities are being detected in paddy procurement as farmers claim that they are being paid prices below the MSP through a parallel ‘kachi parchi’ system, as arhtiyas impose cuts citing “high moisture content”.

INLD leaders and local farmers have submitted a memorandum to Uklana Market Committee Secretary Suman Devi, demanding strict action against those responsible.

INLD national secretary Umed Lohan said, despite farmers bringing their produce to the mandis, government agencies were not purchasing it, forcing growers into distress sale. The Centre has fixed an MSP of Rs 2,775 per quintal for bajra, but in most mandis across Hisar and neighbouring districts, farmers are being forced to sell for much less.

Though authorities claim that farmers selling below MSP would be compensated under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY), which provides Rs 575 per quintal to those selling at Rs 2,200 per quintal to private buyers, farmers allege receiving only Rs 1,700-Rs 2,000 per quintal, which remains below the MSP even after adding the BBY compensation. “Farmers already affected by natural calamities are now being forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices, damaging not only their livelihoods but also the reputation of the Haryana Government,” said Balbir Thakan, joint secretary, All India Kisan Sabha, Bhiwani.

Moong has an MSP of Rs 8,782 per quintal but market prices hovers around Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000 per quintal.