Rohtak, Sept. 16 -- With the harvesting of early-maturing varieties of basmati rice has gathered pace in Haryana, the prices have witnessed a decline of around Rs.500 to Rs.700 per quintal, as a sharp rise in arrivals in the mandis has put pressure on the market.

According to the reports from some grain markets, the prices of Pusa 1509 and Pusa 1692, which were selling at around Rs.4,200 per quintal earlier this month, have now slipped to around Rs.3,500 to Rs.3,700 per quintal, resulting into a loss of around Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,000 per acre to farmers.

According to the traders and farmers in the state's major basmati-growing belt, the fall in the prices was primarily driven by the increased arrival of paddy in the mandis over the past ...