Farmers in Indri lock market committee office over stalled paddy procurement

Farmers in Indri, Haryana, locked the market committee office on Saturday to protest the government's failure to begin paddy procurement for six days, demanding action after officials offered no concrete solution. The farmers, who have been bringing their crop since September 27, cited a strike by commission agents and high moisture content as reasons for the stalled purchases. They held a two-hour protest and only relented after the SDM assured them that all farmer portals would be verified by 4 pm and procurement would start soon. Procurement is being conducted through Hafed, Haryana Warehousing Corporation, and DFSC agencies, with only 20 quintals of paddy purchased by Saturday afternoon. Farmers have warned they will intensify their agitation if large-scale buying does not begin quickly.