Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has announced major updates for farmers. At an event in Kurukshetra, he revealed that the government will forgive ₹133 crore in unpaid dues for farmers. He also stated that the government will start buying 10 new crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
After this announcement, the Haryana government will now buy 24 crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) from farmers. This matches the central government’s policy, which also supports MSP for 24 crops. Previously, Haryana had MSP for only 14 crops.
In another big announcement, the Chief Minister said that ₹137 crore in compensation for crops damaged by natural disasters before 2023 will be given out within a week. On June 27, he also said that all farmers who apply by December 31, 2023, will get tubewell connections.
CM Saini also announced that the rule requiring tubewells to use solar energy will be removed.
The Chief Minister also helped farmers by saying that if the transformers put in by electricity companies break down, the companies will replace them for free and won’t charge the farmers.
The Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Ministry has denied that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is given to only 17% of crops. They said the government sets MSP for 22 specific crops and a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane.
The ministry claimed that these crops make up about 99% of all agricultural production in the country. They also said there are no plans to directly pay farmers the difference between the selling price and the MSP.