Appealing farmers to go to the fields for harvesting of their crops by following social distancing norms, Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Jai Prakash Dalal said that the agriculture department officers have been directed to make all the arrangements ensuring hassle free Rabi procurement season for Mustard starting from April 15, and Wheat from April 20.

He says that to incentivise farmers for staggered and delayed procurement of wheat due to the ongoing lockdown, the government has sent a proposal urging the Central Government to provide incentive ranging from Rs 50 to  Rs 125 per quintal to the farmers.

The Agriculture Minister said that to overcome from the shortage of labourers in this harvesting season, the district authorities have been directed to ensure that the combine and other agricultural machinery coming from Punjab and other States are not stopped from entering in the State.

In an interview with ‘The Pioneer’, the Agriculture Minister reveals his strategies to address farmers’ concerns regarding procurement of crops after enforcement of lockdown due to corona virus threat. Excerpts from the interview:

After the announcement of lockdown, how would the farmers harvest Mustard and Wheat and take it to the markets?

Mustard and Wheat are at the maturity stage now. Farmers taking their produce to the mandis for procurement will not be stopped once the season begins. But at the same time, to avoid gathering in large numbers, farmers are being made aware that they are not taking crops together in Mandis.  Haryana largely depends on farm labourers from Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa and others. They are employed by farmers and the aarhtiyas' commission agents each for harvesting and procurement activities respectively.

Do you think that an acute shortage of labourers and transportation following country-wide lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, harvesting and procurement of Mustard and Wheat crop has turned into a herculean task for farmers and the State government?

It is true that following lockdown, farmers are facing difficulties to find labourers to cut harvest from their fields in the State. Now, farmers in the State are highly depended on local labourers. We appeal to the farmers to use machines for harvesting and threshing instead. For this, farmers should invite private players from Punjab for the combine and other agricultural machinery for harvesting and threshing of rabi crops. Such machines were also used for the same purpose in previous years too. Only we can ensure that farming machinery coming from Punjab and other States are not stopped from entering in the State. For this, district authorities have already been instructed.

With the announcement of 21-days lockdown, large number labourers are stranded at different places within State. The labour rates have also gone by 25 per cent to 50 per cent. How will you address it?

Farmers have been asked to go to the fields for the harvesting of their crops, provided that they have to follow social distancing norm. They should make an arrangement at their level to cut the harvest from their fields. Many farming families have started harvesting on their own. The Government is mulling to make a new scheme to make for farmers’ losses.  Meanwhile, the process to contact the workers of the unorganised sector for providing aid had been initiated and the officials concerned had been directed to ensure that no worker was left out. We have asked the district authorities to provide food and shelter to migrant labourers and the homeless in temporary community shelters in accordance with social distancing norms.

Farmers in the State are worried following unseasonal rain, lack of storage space and closure of shops selling fertilisers and pesticides. What are the steps being taken to mitigate their woes?

Rain at this stage was not required for Wheat crop as it was at the maturity stage. Earlier in March, rain occurred and many farmers had applied for compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. State Government has already announced special girdawari (revenue survey) of rabi crops affected due to rain in the beginning of March.  Meanwhile, as many farmers have started harvesting their crops, they have been urged to stock the grain at their homes or other suitable places. In case any farmer faces trouble doing the same, the marketing board has been told to look into the matter. Department officers concerned have been asked to address the issues of fertilizers and pesticides immediately.

Owing to lockdown, the State Government there is delay in procurement of wheat and farmers have a critical problem of storage. Private players may take advantage by procuring their crops at a much lower price. Your comment.

The procurement of Mustard and Wheat was scheduled to begin on March 29 and April 1 respectively, Due to unavoidable reason, dates were extended. The harvesting of mustard has started while that of wheat is also likely to begin in the next few days. Hisar and adjoining districts, including Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad and Mahendergarh, have mustard as the main rabi crop. Some Mustard farming families have started harvesting on their own. Farmers have been asked to stock the grain at their homes till then. As a part of an arrangement, the sheds of Radha Swami Dera Satsang buildings will be used for purchase. Farmers should not be in hurry. The authorities will take cognisance if such cases arise. 

What are the directions given to department officers to address farmers’ concerns?

The officers have been directed to keep in mind that procurement of mustard and wheat is only five days apart, there is a possibility that both crops are procured together. To accommodate both the crops, they have been directed to build separate procurement centers apart from the existing mandis.

Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda raised the concerns of farmers over harvesting amid lockdown. He seeks guidelines from the State Government for harvesting and bonus to compensate the farmers. Your comment

We too are concerned on farmers’ issues. With lockdown till April 14, arrangements are being made to start the procurement of mustard and wheat on April 15 and April 20, respectively, if the situation gets favourable. We are in contact with farmer communities and aware about their pertinent issues. Our Government will take all possible steps to resolve their issues. The Government will come out with new scheme to compensate for farmers’ losses.

What are the prices fixed by the State Government for the procurement of Mustard and Wheat from the farmers this year?

This year, the minimum support price for Mustard has been fixed at Rs 4425 per quintal and Rs 1925 per quintal for Wheat. In the mandis, if the bid price of the crops is less than their minimum support price then the difference is compensated under the Bhavantar Bharpaii Yojana.

Does your government have any plan to incentivise farmers for staggered and delayed procurement?

We are working in this direction. The Central Government has been urged to incentivise farmers for staggered and delayed procurement. The procurement of wheat, which was scheduled to begin on April 1, is now scheduled to begin on April 20. In view of the delayed procurement of wheat due to the ongoing lockdown, the State Government has sent a proposal urging the Central Government’s to provide incentive ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 125 per quintal to the farmers.