CHANDIGARH, July 19 -- Haryana agriculture and farmers' welfare minister Shyam Singh Rana on Friday directed officials to ensure prompt release of sugarcane purchase payments to farmers and immediate settlement of outstanding arrears of the cultivators.

Presiding over the meeting of the officers of the department here, the agriculture minister held discussions with officials regarding the pending payments to sugarcane producers associated with Naraingarh sugar mill.

While instructing the officials to resolve the farmer's payment issues as quickly as possible, Rana said that sugarcane crushing at the mill should continue without interruption and that farmers should receive payment promptly.

"The state government remains fully committed ...