Haryana Govt committed to procure farmers' crops on MSP: CM Manohar Lal Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar slammed the opposition for unnecessarily politicising and misleading farmers over New Farm Ordinances recently introduced by the Central Government and said that the State Government is 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.

According to an official release, he clarified that with the introduction of these Ordinances, by no means, government Mandis will be closed and procurement of crops on MSP will continue and by no chance, the procurement will be done below the MSP, he said.The Chief Minister said this while addressing a Digital Press Conference held in Chandigarh today, while putting an end to the rumours being spread by the opposition regarding New Farm Ordinances.

He said 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 orgzation 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," said Khattar.

The Chief Minister while responding to a query regarding State Government's strategy to make the farmers aware about the Ordinances, announced that special "Krishi Adalat" will be set up 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 a 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.

"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 Bhiw and 321 acres in Gurugram," said the chief minister.

Taking a dig at Congress, Haryana CM 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."

He said that these political parties have nothing to do with the interest of farmers rather they are just deceiving the farmers so as to save their political existence. However the farmers' especially progressive farmers and Farmer Producer Orgzations 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.

( With inputs from ANI )