1.12 lakh bags of paddy arrive at Chandigarh grain market; 98% procured by FCI

Within two weeks after procurement began, 1.12 lakh bags of paddy have arrived in the Sector‑39 Grain Market, Chandigarh. Each bag weighs 37.50 kg.

Sushil Mittal, president of the Grain Market Arhtiyas Association, Chandigarh, said that arrivals are picking up pace and over 98 per cent of the paddy has been purchased by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). He added that they expect the arrivals of paddy will remain 20 to 25 per cent less compared to last year. The farmers are saying that the floods have significantly affected the crops.

The farmers of Ropar and nearby villages have been coming to the grain market regularly for many years. Rajinder Kumar, secretary of the Market Committee, informed that all the arrangements have been made for farmers coming to the grain market to sell paddy. The grain market is catering to the needs of farmers residing within a 25 to 30 km radius of Chandigarh. Uninterrupted electricity and water supply have been provided to them.

Every year, over 2,000 farmers bring their produce in this season, which continues till November end. Last year, over 7.23 lakh bags of paddy arrived at the Grain Market.

Farmers said they are happy as the government has increased the MSP for paddy. This year, the MSP has been fixed at Rs 2,389 per quintal while it was Rs 2,225 per quintal last year. Mittal said that the FCI is the only agency purchasing paddy from the Chandigarh Grain Market.

Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament, Chandigarh, reviewed the arrangements for procurement by the FCI in a meeting of the FCI Advisory Committee held in Chandigarh on September 22. He emphasised that procurement of paddy in Punjab and Chandigarh should be absolutely hassle‑free and seamless.

The general manager of the Punjab region, B Srinivasan, gave an in‑depth presentation about the procurement operations being carried out in Punjab and Chandigarh with regard to paddy and wheat.