Rania co-op protests commission reduction on paddy procurement

Members of the Rania Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society staged a protest on Friday against the recent reduction in commission on paddy procurement.

The demonstration was led by society president Jagjit Singh. A memorandum was submitted to the HAFED District Manager as part of the protest.

Protesters expressed anger over a directive issued by the HAFED Managing Director on September 29, 2025, which slashed the commission for paddy procurement from Rs 5.80 to Rs 1.33 per quintal, aligning it with the wheat commission rate.

Previously, the commission for paddy was 0.25 per cent of the Minimum Support Price (MSP). According to Singh, 69 cooperative marketing societies operate under HAFED across the state, playing a vital role in purchasing crops from farmers at the mandi level and supplying agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilisers.

The societies had long been demanding an increase in wheat procurement commission, but instead, HAFED chose to reduce the paddy commission, he added.

“This is a direct blow to cooperative societies already struggling to operate under tight margins,” Singh said, adding that the decision had triggered widespread resentment among societies across the state.

In their memorandum, the protesters demanded the restoration of the previous commission rate for paddy, an increase in wheat commission to 0.25 percent of the MSP, a raise in the fertiliser quota from 40 per cent to 60 per cent for the society, and an increase in Anganwadi supply charges to Rs 150 per quintal.