Karnal, Oct. 7 -- Even a fortnight after the kharif marketing season officially began in Haryana, farmers continue to struggle to sell their produce at government purchase centres. Repeated protests by farmer unions and independent growers across mandis have exposed how peasants are forced to wait for hours to sell their crop below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), even as inclement weather poses a constant threat.

At Karnal's new grain market, 62-year-old Kanwar Pal from Uchana village waited since Sunday morning for his paddy to be procured.

"I arrived at the mandi with the crop harvested from half of my ten acres. Due to bad weather warnings, I left the rest for next week. There is no government purchase here. Private players are offe...