Kurukshetra: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Charuni national president Gurnam Singh Charuni has urged the Haryana govt to begin procurement of the 2026-27 paddy crop from Sept 15 and ensure timely procurement, payments, storage and lifting.In a letter to CM Nayab Singh Saini, Charuni said around 6.69 lakh tonnes of CMR rice from the 2025-26 season was still pending for delivery, and sought clarity on its impact on the coming procurement season. He also asked the govt to keep alternative arrangements ready if rice millers were unable to accept paddy or went on strike.Charuni said farmers should not be forced to sell to private traders at distress prices because of disputes or administrative issues involving millers. He sought adequate permanent and temporary storage and prompt lifting of paddy.He also sought an independent probe into an alleged discrepancy in Meri Fasal Mera Byora data. He said 4,83,897 farmers had registered 28,80,192 acres of non-Basmati paddy, while the Agriculture Department had verified 30,16,285 acres, a difference of about 1.36 lakh acres.Charuni also flagged the biometric procurement system, saying it could create practical difficulties for farmers whose crop reaches mandis before formal procurement begins. Starting procurement on Sept 15, he said, would help avoid such problems.He said irregularities or negligence in last year’s procurement should be attributed to responsible officials or agencies, not farmers, and urged the govt to issue a clear mandi-wise plan for procurement, payments, storage and lifting.
