Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini presented a stark picture of agricultural distress in Haryana, revealing that more than 25.67 lakh farmers across the state are grappling with outstanding loans totalling a massive Rs 60,816 crore. The data was disclosed in the Haryana assembly on Thursday, the first day of the winter session, in response to a query from INLD's Rania MLA, Arjun Chautala.
District-Wise Breakdown of the Agricultural Debt Crisis
The chief minister provided a detailed geographical breakdown of the debt, highlighting which regions are under the most severe financial strain. Sirsa district emerged as the top contributor to the state's farm loan burden, with outstanding dues amounting to Rs 6,360 crore. It was closely followed by Hisar district at Rs 5,934 crore, Karnal at Rs 4,673 crore, and Fatehabad at Rs 4,411 crore.
In contrast, smaller districts reported comparatively lower figures. Panchkula had outstanding agricultural loans of Rs 610 crore, while Faridabad's dues stood at Rs 520 crore. This disparity underscores the varied intensity of the debt crisis across different regions of Haryana.
Government's Multi-Pronged Relief Measures for Farmers
Responding to concerns over the severe financial stress on small and marginal farmers, CM Saini outlined several key initiatives launched by the state government. He emphasized that the administration has implemented multiple schemes designed to provide tangible relief.
A major intervention is the provision of crop loans up to Rs 1.5 lakh at an effective zero percent interest rate through cooperative banks. This benefit is contingent on timely repayment and is made possible through a combined interest subvention—3% from the Central government and 4% from the state government.
Furthermore, the government has actively rolled out One-Time Settlement (OTS) schemes to assist farmers who have defaulted on their repayments. Under a scheme initiated in 2019, over 3.08 lakh farmers received relief worth Rs 1,348.40 crore. A subsequent scheme in 2022 provided benefits to 17,847 farmers, amounting to Rs 66.01 crore through the waiver of interest and penal interest.
Extension of the OTS Scheme Till 2026
In a significant move for ongoing debt resolution, Chief Minister Saini informed the legislative assembly that the OTS scheme has been extended. The deadline for farmers to avail of this settlement option is now March 31, 2026. This extension offers a continued window of opportunity for farmers struggling with loan repayments to regularize their accounts and find a path out of debt.
The revelations in the assembly stemmed from a starred question by MLA Arjun Chautala, who sought information on the number of indebted farmers, the total debt until July 2025, and any government relief plans for those unable to repay. The data presented confirms the scale of the challenge facing Haryana's agricultural sector and highlights the state's efforts to mitigate the crisis through targeted financial interventions.
