Farmers on Tuesday blocked Delhi-Amritsar National Highway in Kurukshetra against the Haryana government’s decision to not buy sunflower seeds on the minimum support price (MSP).
Earlier, Bhartiya Kisan Union had come out in support of the farmers over their demand.
The farmers are protesting over the Haryana government’s decision not to buy sunflower seed on the minimum support price (MSP).
The farmers had given the government ultimatum till June 6 to decide on the matter.
Pertinently, Haryana government on Monday claimed that the Haryana State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) have started commercial procurement of sunflower seed at five mandis of the district at Rs 4,800 per quintal, reported The Hindustan Times.
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However, farmers seemed unmoved by the government’s gesture.
Haryana government’s refusal to offer MSP came as a jolt to the thousands of sunflower growers ahead of the harvest season.
Farmers have not sold their produce to private traders and are awaiting the government to accept the demands.
The farmers said the government’s move has come as a surprise to them and will amount to losses of nearly Rs10,000 to Rs12,000 per acre, reported The Hindustan Times.
Earlier, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had assured farmers of MSP.
Sunflower is grown on around 30,000 acres in the potato growing belts of Kurukshetra and Ambala districts.
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Sunflower helps to generate additional income to farmers as they could take three crops from a field in a year after paddy and potato.
