Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi drawing his attention to "heavy losses" being suffered by farmers in the state due to the "sudden drop" in the purchase price of rice.
In the letter, Hooda pointed out that the scanty rainfall this year had already increased the production cost of rice to a great extent and now the reduction in purchase price of rice is dealing a cruel blow to the farmers.
Haryana is the biggest exporter of Basmati rice in the country.
The Chief Minister has appealed to the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to address the problems of farmers "who are suffering losses from Rs 100 to Rs 1,500 per quintal".
He has pointed out that if necessary steps are not taken soon, not just the farmers will suffer, but the country too will lose foreign exchange as a result of fall in export of Basmati rice.
