EXPLAINER:Why Ambala grain markets are running out of space for paddy

Heavy paddy arrivals, coupled with tardy lifting, leave grain markets in Ambala with little space for fresh arrivals every year.

The situation not only causes inconvenience to farmers, as they are forced to wait to offload their produce, but also results in payment delays.

n What are the reasons behind the space shortage?

With harvesting at its peak, arrivals at grain markets are substantial, but lifting has been on the slower side, leaving markets with a shortage of space.

Also, many farmers bring produce with high moisture content, due to which it is kept in the grain market longer for drying, leaving no space for other farmers’ grain.

While the permissible moisture limit for the procurement of paddy is 17 per cent, stock arriving at the grain market often contains moisture content of up to 22 per cent.

n What concerns have farmers flagged?

Farmers rue that they are forced to wait for hours for their turn to offload produce. Unfavourable weather has also emerged as a concern.

Farmers have already suffered losses due to the southern rice black streaked dwarf virus, waterlogging, and false smut, with Monday’s rain spell only adding to their woes.

Farmers say they face a similar situation every year, due to the lack of preparedness and arrangements. They say the government should ensure that issues pertaining to transport, commission agents and rice millers are resolved before the beginning of the procurement season, and they are not forced to sell their produce below the MSP.

n How much produce has been lifted?

Just over 41 per cent of the total stock procured at 15 grain markets and purchase centres of Ambala was lifted till Sunday evening.

Over 1.95 lakh MT paddy has arrived at these grain markets and purchase centres, of which over 1.53 lakh MT was procured by procurement agencies, and over 63,418 MT was lifted.

n What do officials claim?

Grain market officials claimed that a delay in streamlining lifting, coupled with the heavy stocks (often arriving with higher moisture content), resulted in the shortage of space. However, the situation was improving, they added.

Earlier, due to manual harvesting, crops stayed in the fields for days, helping retain just the right amount of moisture, officials said, adding that, with mechanised harvesting, the crop reached mandis immediately.

Farmers were urged to bring their produce as per norms so that stocks were procured in time, and without any cut on the MSP, they added.