Paddy growers block Ambala-Hisar highway for three hours

Paddy growers today blocked Ambala-Hisar National Highway here for three hours after procurement agencies allegedly refused to procure their crop citing high moisture content.
Traffic came to a halt after farmers parked their tractors in the middle of the highway during their protest here, police said.
Farmers accused procurement agencies of not procuring paddy, claiming that the moisture content in the crop was within permissible limit.
"25 per cent moisture in the paddy is permissible by the government but the procurement agencies are not following the government's directions," a farmer alleged.
Farmers said they were also not being given full minimum support price (MSP) for their crop.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Ambala) Vinay Pratap Singh and Additional Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Ahuja assured the farmers that they would take up the matter with higher authorities to resolve their issue tomorrow.
Farmers lifted the blockade after three hours.
Meanwhile, President of Anaj Mandi Grain Dealer Association Dooni Chand Danipur said the procurement agency should procure the paddy as per the directions of the government.