The farmers' body Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) has urged the Haryana government to commence procurement of sunflower crops from May 25 instead of the scheduled June 1, and to extend the procurement period by at least 15 days to safeguard farmers' interests.
Letter to Chief Minister and Department Director
In a letter addressed to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and the Director of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, the BKU (Charuni) highlighted that sunflower arrivals in mandis across the state are currently at their peak, while government procurement is slated to start only on June 1.
Concerns Over Delay
BKU (Charuni) National President Gurnam Singh Charuni stated that the delay in procurement is causing serious inconvenience to farmers. He explained that farmers are compelled to dry and clean their produce before taking it back home and later transporting it again to the mandis, leading to additional expenses and hardship.
Demands for Early Procurement and Extension
The farmers' union demanded that government procurement of sunflower crop should commence on May 25 to prevent unnecessary financial losses and difficulties for farmers. It further stated that this year's sunflower production has exceeded previous years, meaning the existing 30-day procurement period would be insufficient. The BKU (Charuni) warned that a large number of farmers could be deprived of selling their produce at the minimum support price (MSP) if the procurement window is not extended.
Appeal to Haryana Government
The farmers' body appealed to the Haryana government to make an early decision on both demands in the interest of the farmers. The union emphasized that timely action is crucial to ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their produce and avoid financial distress.
