Wheat stocked in open at mandis, farmers jittery over rain forecast

With weatherman forecasting a spell of dust storm and rain for the next two-three days, market committees, farmers, procurement agencies and commission agents are keeping their fingers crossed at various procurement centres of the district.

A bumper crop this year has only made the task more difficult as the Kharar and Lalru grain markets are brimming with stock and a considerable quantity is out in the open.

Officials said intermittent showers on Tuesday night did not have adverse impact on the grains but the next two days would be crucial. They said 1,31,120 metric tonnes of grain have arrived in district mandis and the entire stock had been purchased, adding that 76% of lifting has already been done. Market Committee officials said a majority of the crop had already been procured.

Pungrain (30,886 MT), Markfed (24,270 MT), Punsup (24,957 MT), Punjab State Warehouse Corporation (15,585 MT), FCI (10,382 MT), and private traders (25,240 MT) have purchased the stock.

Kharar farmers union member Jaspal Singh Niamian said, “The next two-three days are crucial as overcast conditions and winds can play spoilsport.”