Karnal farmers await Rs 349 cr as wheat harvest nears end

As the wheat harvesting season nears completion and 84 per cent of the procured wheat has already been lifted from Karnal’s grain markets, hundreds of farmers are still awaiting payments amounting to Rs 349 crore.

While officials attribute the delay to logistical issues, farmers’ unions have slammed the government for reneging on its promise of timely payments.

According to official data, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Hafed, and Haryana Warehousing Corporation (HWC) have collectively procured 79,02,150 quintals of wheat this season. Out of the total Rs 1,916 crore owed to farmers, Rs 1,567 crore has been disbursed so far.

The Food Department procured wheat worth Rs 1,068 crore, of which Rs 929 crore has been paid. Hafed procured wheat worth Rs 787 crore, with Rs 579 crore disbursed, while HWC purchased wheat worth Rs 61 crore, of which Rs 59 crore has been transferred to farmers’ accounts.

District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) Anil Kumar said, “Payments are transferred once the wheat stock is received in government godowns. We have lifted around 84 per cent of the wheat and expect to complete the remaining lifting in a few days. Subsequently, the pending payments will also be cleared.”

However, farmers and unions are dissatisfied with this explanation.

Bahadur Mehla, spokesperson of BKU (Sir Chhotu Ram), said, “The government promised timely payment, not payment after godown delivery. Delays in transport, labour availability, or storage are the agencies’ responsibility — farmers should not be made to suffer. The officials are misleading farmers by falsely linking payment to lifting. Payments must be made promptly."

Mehla added that the delay was causing severe financial stress to farmers, who require immediate funds for preparations for their next cropping cycle.

Statewide, Haryana has recorded a lifting of 66 per cent of the procured wheat by government agencies, while 34 per cent is still lying in grain markets.

According to official data, Haryana recorded an arrival of 67,46,244 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat this season. Out of this, 64,15,828 MT has been procured by government agencies. Of the total procurement, 42,78,111 MT — about 66 per cent — has been lifted so far.

District-wise, lifting percentages include Karnal (84%), Ambala (77%), Bhiwani (62%), Charkhi Dadri (70%), Faridabad (87%), Fatehabad (60%), Gurugram (77%), Hisar (61%), Jhajjar (73%), Jind (50%), Kaithal (48%), Kurukshetra (75%), Mahendragarh (78%), Mewat (93%), Palwal (84%), Panchkula (44%), Panipat (79%), Rewari (95%), Rohtak (54%), Sirsa (55%), Sonepat (66%), and Yamunanagar (77%).

“All the transport contractors have been pushed to speed up the lifting across the state,” said a senior official.

Haryana Tribune