Karnal, Sept. 19 -- As harvesting kicks-off in most parts of the paddy growing areas of Haryana, farmer unions have demanded an early procurement for the kharif season, schedule for which is yet to be announced by the government. The activists have cited that the harvesting has already started, which will be at its peak by the end of this month and paddy and bajra crops have also started reaching the mandis of the state. In view of this, members of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) held a one-day fast on Thursday at the deputy commissioner (DC)'s office in various districts. Faction president Gurnam Singh Charuni himself protested while fasting from 10 am to 4 pm outside the office of Kurukshetra DC. Charuni said paddy has started reaching mandis since September 10 and the farmers have to depend on private players to sell their crop. "Punjab has started the purchase from September 16 but here the government seems to be waiting for October 1, which is a decades old practice. Government says that they purchase 24 crops on MSP, highest in the country and we have to push every time for many crops to be bought early. Other than paddy, bajra has been lying in the mandis for the last three weeks. Farmers have to sell them at about Rs.800 cheaper than MSP to private players," he added. Submitting a memorandum to district administration, Charuni warned that if there is no decision till September 22, the union will be forced to block NH-44 thereafter. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) state president Rattan Mann on Wednesday told HT that the state government should give relief to the farmers and purchase the crop even with 19% moisture content, unlike the norms of 17% or less. Meanwhile, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini had on Monday said that he held a meeting with Union minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi, where he requested for early commencement of the upcoming crop procurement. Centre has accepted the request, CM had said. However, no schedule for the procurement season has been issued yet....