Haryana farmers demand earlier paddy procurement and higher milk prices

Farmers in Haryana, under the Bharatiya Kisan Union and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha, marched in Karnal on Wednesday to demand the official paddy procurement start on September 15 instead of October 1. They also demanded milk prices be raised to ₹80-₹100 per litre, citing rising cattle feed costs, and sugarcane prices increased to at least ₹600 per quintal. The groups announced a mahapanchayat in Pehowa on September 10 to plan next steps. Spokesperson Bahadur Singh Mehla urged authorities to relax the maximum moisture limit for paddy from 17% to 20%, arguing combine-harvested crops often exceed current norms. State committee member Jagdeep Singh Aulakh noted high animal feed prices are driving milk farmers out of business.