Farmers on Thursday blocked the Mansa-Bathinda State Highway demanding early lifting of paddy from mandis, which was hit due to rise in moisture level in the crop over the past few days. Farmers complained that because of smog and lack of sunlight moisture level in the crop had risen up to 25 per cent. Paddy with moisture level of 17 per cent is recommended for lifting. But after farmers blocked the state highway for close to two hours, SDM, Mansa ordered lifting of paddy. Information revealed that paddy with moisture content of up to 21 per cent was lifted on Nov 09. The road blockade, which increased the threat of accidents amid dense smog, was organised by Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan).