Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday lashed at the opposition for “unnecessarily politicizing and misleading farmers” over New Farm Ordinances recently introduced by the Central Government, saying the State Government was committed to procure every single grain of farmers crops on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and there will be no change in the functioning of Mandis.
Khattar said even with the introduction of these Ordinances, Government Mandis will not be closed and procurement of crops on MSP will continue and by no chance the procurement will be done below MSP.
Addressing a Digital Press Conference here, Khattar sought to put an end to the rumours being spread by the opposition regarding New Farm Ordinances, saying that Haryana Government is a farmer-friendly Government as it has consistently taken farmer-friendly decisions whether it is about giving compensation, launching new farmer welfare schemes like Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana, Meri Fasal Mera Byora etc.
“Even now the government will not back down in taking any decision in the interest of farmers. If any farmer organization or individual wishes to give any suggestion or has any query regarding these Ordinances then they can come forward to share the same and I assure that their suggestions and grievances will be considered by the Government. I appeal to the farmers to remain vigilant about double standard politics of Congress,” the chief minister said.
Responding to a query regarding State Government’s strategy to make the farmers aware about the Ordinances, Khattar announced that special ‘Krishi Adalat’ will be setup in each district to effectively readdress the agriculture related issues and queries of the farmers of the state so as to ensure that every grievance raised by farmers is resolved on priority basis. He said that the Ordinances introduced by the Central Government have only given a facility to farmers that if a private agency wants to purchase from outside government Mandis at a price higher than Minimum Support Price, then the farmers can sell their crops at a higher price.
The chief minister said that as per the Contract Farming, no contract will be signed with the farmers below MSP Price. About 333 contract farmings have been undertaken in Haryana, out of which contract farming on 1100 acres is being done in Sirsa, 350 acres in Fatehabad, 900 acres in Bhiwani and 321 acres in Gurugram.
Taking a dig at Congress, Khattar said, “The ‘so called’ farmer friendly leaders are provoking the farmers by misguiding them, but the farmers are now beginning to understand the benefits of these Ordinances”. He said that if the opposition is so farmer friendly then they should ask the Congress led Rajasthan and Punjab Governments to start the procurement of Millet and Maize like Haryana is doing.
This time we have decided that Haryana will not be procuring a single grain coming from other states including Rajasthan and Punjab.
Whereas grains produced by each farmer of Haryana will be procured by the State Government at Minimum Support Price.”
He said these political parties have nothing to do with the interest of farmers rather they are just deceiving them. However the farmers’ especially progressive farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations have now understood that the State Government is committed for the welfare of farmers and procurement will be done on Minimum Support Price only, he asserted.
On the plans for Kharif procurement, Khattar said Haryana is geared up for the Kharif season and for this the State Government has even wrote a letter to Central Government for seeking permission for allowing the procurement of paddy which is procured for the Public Food Distribution System to start from September 25 instead of October 1. “Even in the difficult times arisen due to COVID-19, the number of Mandis and procurement centres were increased to facilitate the farmers and for hassle free procurement of Wheat and Mustard and likewise, this time too for the procurement of Paddy, as many as 200 new Mandis will be opened in rice mills for procurement of paddy starting from September 25, 2020 this year so as to ensure that social distancing and other norms are followed,” he said.
Replying to another question regarding opposition indulging in political gimmicks on Ordinances’ issue, Khattar said that the Congress manifesto had promised to bring changes in agricultural related Acts, now when we are improving these Acts, then why are they feeling bad? The Ordinances have opened an alternative for farmers to sell their crops on higher prices, it has not closed their first option of selling the crops on MSP.
“Issues related to Arhtiya are also being resolved on priority basis. It will be ensured that they do not face any trouble. Last year Dami worth Rs. 252 crore has been paid for Paddy and Millet and this time Rs. 309 crore has already been paid as Dami for Wheat and Mustard. Around Rs. 56 crore is pending, which will be cleared soon,” said the Chief Minister.
Responding to a question asked about implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, the Chief Minister said that the State Government has implemented most of its recommendations.
