NHB RULES TRIGGER FARMER PROTEST ACROSS 10 STATES; POLYHOUSE GROWERS DEMAND 50 PERCENT ASSISTANCE BACK

FARMERS DEMAND WITHDRAWAL OF 21 AUGUST CIRCULAR, RESTORATION OF 50% ASSISTANCE AND TIME-BOUND CLEARANCE OF PENDING GOCS

Face2News/Chandigarh,

Polyhouse farmers and protected-cultivation stakeholders staged a peaceful protest in Chandigarh on Friday as part of a coordinated campaign across 10 states and 11 cities, raising concerns over changes in National Horticulture Board (NHB) guidelines, delays in Grant of Clearance (GoC) and uncertainty surrounding ongoing and proposed polyhouse projects.

The protest follows an NHB amendment dated 21 August 2026 and a subsequent 4 September 2026 public notice temporarily suspending receipt of fresh GoC applications under Scheme No. 1 and Scheme No. 2. Farmers said the uncertainty is affecting project planning, financing and investments across the protected-cultivation ecosystem.

Farmers and industry representatives said delays in GoC clearances could affect bank sanctions, project timelines and investments, while also creating uncertainty for greenhouse manufacturers, polyhouse suppliers, fabricators, contractors and installation teams. Industry representatives estimate that the sector supports more than 5 lakh direct and 10 lakh indirect jobs, although these figures are industry estimates and not an official employment census.

Farmers Demand Restoration of 50% Assistance

The protesters demanded withdrawal and review of the 21 August circular, restoration of 50% assistance for eligible protected-cultivation projects and protection for applications submitted under the earlier framework.

They also sought a time-bound mechanism for pending GoCs, written safeguards for projects where bank loans have already been sanctioned or construction has begun, and adequate protection for farmers who have already made substantial investments.

Farmers further demanded monthly disclosure of GoC disposal figures, transparent communication regarding application deficiencies, separate timelines for pending clearances and subsidy claims, and an escalation mechanism for applications delayed beyond prescribed timelines.

“Farmers Should Not Be Trapped Between Loans and Uncertain Subsidies”

Sandeep Sharma, Polyhouse Farmer from Karnal, said: “Farmers invest their life savings and often take bank loans based on the government framework and the assurances available at the time of starting a polyhouse project. When the rules are changed suddenly and GoC applications are kept uncertain, the financial burden ultimately falls on the farmer. We are not asking for anything unreasonable—we want the assistance that was applicable when our projects were planned, timely clearance of pending applications and clear protection for projects where farmers have already invested or taken loans. The government must ensure that policy changes do not leave genuine farmers trapped between loans, incomplete projects and uncertain subsidies.”

Wider Policy Concerns

The protesters also raised wider concerns including GST relief on eligible greenhouse supplies, realistic admissible cost norms, clear tax classification and practical provisions relating to land costs.

They called for a dedicated annual allocation of at least ₹1,000 crore for protected cultivation, along with transparent disclosure of fund releases, expenditure and pending liabilities. Other demands included clear rules for family applications and Groups of Farmers, safeguards against duplicate assistance and clarity on application fees and GST treatment.

Farmers urged NHB and the Ministry of Agriculture to engage directly with growers, financial institutions and industry stakeholders before introducing any replacement framework.

The protesters said the immediate priority is to restart clearances, protect earlier commitments, restore assistance and establish a transparent and predictable approval mechanism. They called for an immediate stakeholder dialogue and a clear roadmap for pending and future GoC applications to restore confidence in India’s protected-cultivation sector.