Farmers paid less than MSP: Surjewala

DEMANDS SPECIAL “GIRDAWARI” TO ASSESS THE EXTENT OF LOSS TO CROPS DUE TO RAINS AND HAIL ACROSS STATE

CHANDIGARH: Accusing the Haryana government of paying less than the minimum support price (MSP) to farmers for paddy and bajra, All India Congress Committee (AICC) media in-charge Randeep Surjewala on Monday demanded special “girdawari” to assess the extent of loss to crops due to rains and hail across state.

Briefing mediapersons here, Randeep, who is also an MLA from Kaithal, said that while rain and hailstorm had hit various crops including paddy, cotton, bajra and sugarcane to the extent of 25% to 40% in quality as well as production, they had yet not got special girdawari conducted in the affected areas.

He said that untimely rain had caused damage to bajra and cotton crops in Narnaul, Mahendergarh, Kanina, Bawal, Rewari, Haily Mandi, Farukhnagar in Southern Haryana, heavy and hailstorm and rains had damaged to paddy and sugarcane crops in Ambala, Yamuna Nagar and Panchkula districts of north Haryana.

He alleged that while MSP for paddy was ₹1,770 per quintal, the farmer at almost all grain markets being paid ₹150 to ₹200 less under the pretext of moisture, though the receipt given to the farmers reflected MSP of ₹1,770 per quintal. “In the case of Bajra crop, while its MSP is ₹1,950 per quintal, a large number of farmers got only about ₹1,300. Since there are various conditions, including compulsory bank account and mobile phone, for farmers, many farmers were compelled to sell their produces in the open without MSP as they could not register on the official e-portal,” he held.