Karnal, Sept. 25 -- As the paddy harvesting gets underway in Haryana and procurement is set to begin, the state government has restricted the use of combine harvesters from 6pm to 10am, citing moisture content during night hours. Farmers will only be able to harvest their field using the combine from 10 am to 6 pm, the order issued on Tuesday by the directorate of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs said. The additional director of procurement instructed all DCs across the state to impose prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, to regulate paddy harvesting, straw-management equipment and the movement of paddy-laden vehicles. The order states, "...department concerned indicate that the harvesting takes place during the late evening, night and early morning, particularly when dew and humidity are high. This may result in freshly harvested paddy having moisture levels above the permissible procurement limit of 17%." The government said that due to this, there are difficulties in procurement, drying and storage, resulting in inconvenience and possible financial hardship to the farmers. Officials from the agriculture department, food and civil supplies department, market committee and police will work as a joint inspection and enforcement team to comply with the order. The teams will inspect the combine harvester, follow the rules related to straw-management and monitor the harvesting within the stipulated time. In a statement, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala criticised the move and said, "While the BJP government claims it will procure every single grain, farmers with ready crops are struggling with restrictions on harvesting and difficulties in getting their produce to procurement centres."...