Karnal, Oct. 10 -- The Haryana agriculture department on Friday recorded a bumper yield of 38 quintals per acre for the non-basmati PR-2226 paddy variety in Chuhad Majra village during an official inspection for the 2026-27 kharif season. The recorded figure marks a significant jump from the average yield of 36 quintals per acre, sparking optimism among local farmers. A high-level department team, including assistant commissioner (in-training) Shivani Panchal, joint director (statistics) Rajiv Mishra and assistant statistical officer Balkar Singh, conducted harvesting experiments across Kaul, Chuhad Majra and Dadwana villages in Kaithal district to assess this season's output. According to agriculture experts, PR-2226 is an early-maturing, non-basmati variety that ripens within 80 to 90 days, making it highly popular among farmers. Kaithal deputy director of agriculture Ravinder Jakhar stated that 40% to 45% of harvesting has been completed in the district, and crop-cutting experiments will continue for both basmati and non-basmati varieties. Haryana agriculture minister Shyam Singh Rana conducted inspections across grain markets in Ambala, Kurukshetra and Karnal to review procurement and lifting mechanisms. Speaking to reporters at the Shahabad mandi in Kurukshetra, Rana highlighted that while the official procurement limit for Kurukshetra district is set at 29 quintals per acre, the government will not leave farmers stranded if their yield is higher. Farmers protesting under the banner of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU-Tikait) blocked a section of the Karnal-Assandh road on National Highway 709A, alleging a complete breakdown in the procurement process. The agitators parked loaded trolleys and dumped massive heaps of unsold paddy directly onto the highway. The demonstration lasted for nearly six hours....