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Paddy Procurement: Kumari Selja Urges Haryana Government to Ease Farmers’ Difficulties
Sirsa MP and Congress national general secretary Kumari Selja has urged the Haryana government to remove procedural difficulties being faced by farmers during the ongoing paddy procurement season and ensure that the process of selling their crop remains simple, transparent and time-bound.
Selja said farmers work throughout the year to raise their crop and bring it to the mandi with the expectation that the government procurement system will provide them a smooth route to sale and payment. She said problems relating to portal mismatches, crop verification, gate passes and moisture-related procedures should not become a recurring source of difficulty for cultivators.
According to Selja, farmers in several mandis are facing difficulties in obtaining gate passes where details on the procurement system do not match the relevant crop or farmer records. She said such technical and procedural issues can affect the movement of paddy into mandis and slow down procurement at a time when farmers need the process to move efficiently.
Digital Systems Should Help Farmers, Not Hinder Them»
Selja said platforms such as ‘Meri Fasal-Mera Byora’ and the e-Kharid portal were introduced to bring transparency and efficiency to agricultural procurement. However, she said the purpose of digitalisation would be defeated if farmers were forced to make repeated visits to mandis or government offices because of technical mismatches or complicated verification procedures.
The e-Kharid system is designed to digitally manage different stages of procurement, from farmer and crop registration to arrival, procurement, storage and payment. Such systems can improve coordination and transparency, but their effectiveness also depends on timely verification and the ability of officials to resolve discrepancies at the ground level.
Prompt Verification and Gate Passes Needed»
The Congress leader called for the government to complete crop verification without unnecessary delay and issue gate passes to eligible farmers promptly. She also stressed the need for adequate arrangements for procurement, lifting and timely payment so that farmers do not remain stuck in the mandi system after bringing their produce.
The opening phase of procurement can put additional pressure on market yards because large quantities of paddy may arrive within a short period. In such circumstances, even relatively small delays in digital verification or gate-pass issuance can affect the movement of produce and increase waiting time for farmers.
Selja said the government should make arrangements in advance so that technical problems are resolved at the earliest possible stage. She argued that farmers who have completed the required registration and verification should not have to repeatedly approach government offices to correct issues that arise within the procurement system.
Procurement, Lifting and Payment Must Move Together»
Selja also called for attention to the stages that follow procurement. She said timely lifting of purchased paddy and prompt payment are equally important because delays at any stage can create financial pressure for farming families.
For many farmers, the sale of the seasonal crop is closely linked to household expenses, repayment of agricultural loans and preparation for the next crop cycle. A predictable procurement mechanism can therefore reduce uncertainty and help farmers manage their finances more effectively.
‘Digital Arrangement Should Not Become a Barrier’»
Selja said digital systems should be used to make procurement more transparent and efficient rather than creating additional hurdles for cultivators. She called for better coordination among the departments, procurement agencies, market committees and officials responsible for verification.
She said the government should ensure that farmers receive clear information about procurement requirements and that complaints relating to portal records, crop verification and gate passes are addressed through a responsive mechanism at the mandi level.
Selja Also Raises Concerns Over Tribal Families in Balaghat»
In a separate statement, Selja referred to concerns concerning tribal families in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, in the context of issues raised by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the area.
Selja said reports and concerns surrounding illness, malnutrition and deaths among children from tribal families required serious attention. She said Gandhi had met affected families and raised questions concerning healthcare, education, employment, the Forest Rights Act and access to government welfare schemes.
She said tribal families should receive access to appropriate healthcare and education, along with benefits under the Forest Rights Act and other government schemes for which they are eligible. Selja also said that if eligible families had faced delays in receiving assistance or compensation, the authorities should review the matter and take appropriate action.
Focus on a Farmer-Friendly Procurement System»
Selja said the government should ensure that the entire procurement chain works without unnecessary interruptions. From verification and gate-pass issuance to procurement, lifting and payment, she said each stage should be coordinated so that farmers can sell their produce without avoidable delays.
She reiterated that farmers should not have to struggle with technical problems every procurement season. According to her, a genuinely farmer-friendly digital system should reduce paperwork and waiting time while providing transparency and accountability.
The Congress leader said her party would continue to raise issues concerning farmers and seek attention to difficulties arising during the procurement process. She urged the Haryana government to take corrective measures at the earliest and ensure that the procurement season proceeds smoothly for cultivators across the state.
This report is based on statements attributed to Kumari Selja and publicly available information concerning the paddy procurement process. The concerns and allegations mentioned in the report are presented as statements made by the concerned political leader and should not be read as independently established findings unless specifically attributed to an official or verified source. Pen Of Democracy does not endorse any political party or political position.
