Haryana farmers call off protests after govt agrees to pay MSP for sunflower crop

By  India Blooms News Service   Jun 13, 2023

New Delhi/IBNS: Protesting farmers of Haryana decided to end their agitation after the state government agreed to pay the minimum support price (MSP) for the sunflower crop.

The impasse was on since the beginning of this month and got resolved at a meeting this evening with the government representatives.

The government will increase the relief and give a fair price to the farmers, the Divisional Commissioner said after the meeting.

It is not yet known whether the government will purchase the crop and pay the Rs. 6,400 per quintal support price, or pay the difference when farmers sell at the open market. But it has committed to adequate compensation, farmers said.

The farmers were earlier selling in the open market at Rs. 4000 per quintal. They were also receiving Rs. 1000 per quintal from the government as relief. The fixed amount relief is paid when products are sold below the minimum support price.

The government has also agreed to release all the farmers arrested during the protest and scrap the police cases against them.

The farmers had started the protest earlier this month, upset over the governments decision not to buy sunflower seeds at the minimum support price

On June 6, farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) blocked National Highway-44 near Shahabad in Kurukshetra district.

The police used batons and water cannons to disperse the protesters.

Later, nine leaders of the farmers group, including its president, were arrested over various charges, including rioting and unlawful assembly.