Chandigarh: Following massive protests in Punjab and Haryana by farmers on Saturday over postponing paddy procurement, the Centre government has announced to begin the procurement from Sunday.
Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of the state of consumer affairs, food & public distribution said that procurement will begin from October 3 in both states.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Friday had called for holding protests outside the residences of legislators in both states to register their protest over the delay in purchasing paddy.
Earlier, Centre delayed the procurement of Kharif crops till October 11 citing that widespread rainfall has been experienced across Punjab and Haryana during the second fortnight of September and untimely showers have affected the standing paddy crop in both the agrarian states. Paddy procurement for 2021-22 Kharif marketing season in Punjab was to commence from October 1, while in Haryana it officially started from September 25.