State logs 5 lakh MT surplus paddy arrivals despite reports of crop loss

In a surprising turn this procurement season, Haryana has recorded a surplus paddy arrival of nearly 5 lakh metric tonnes (MT) compared to the same period last year — despite widespread reports of reduced yield due to floods, heavy rains and crop diseases. Officials now suspect that part of this excess may have originated from neighbouring states, raising concerns over possible procurement manipulation and fake entries.

As per the latest data, the state has received around 59 lakh MT of paddy so far, compared to about 54 lakh MT last year, indicating a sharp rise in arrivals even though production reportedly fell.

District-wise figures show that Fatehabad tops the list with an additional 2.61 lakh MT, followed by Karnal (1.71 lakh MT), Sirsa (64,606 MT) and Kaithal (53,552 MT). Other districts, including Yamunanagar (29,304 MT), Palwal (19,187 MT), Panipat (13,655 MT) and Sonepat (10,005 MT) have also reported higher arrivals. Smaller surpluses have been recorded in Rohtak (9,170 MT), Hisar (4,728 MT), Faridabad (2,454 MT) and Jhajjar (1,981 MT).

However, a few districts have bucked the trend. Panchkula, Jind, Ambala and Kurukshetra have all reported lower arrivals compared to the last season. Kurukshetra recorded a decline of over 68,000 MT, while Ambala saw a shortfall of more than 62,000 MT.

According to procurement data, Fatehabad has so far recorded 10.04 lakh MT arrivals this season against 7.43 lakh MT last year, while Karnal has logged 10.16 lakh MT, up from 8.40 lakh MT. Sirsa has reached 3.65 lakh MT, and Kaithal nearly 8.92 lakh MT, both showing significant jumps.

A senior procurement official said the trend appears inconsistent with ground realities. “Despite delayed harvesting and lower yield reports from several areas, the state’s procurement centres have recorded significantly higher arrivals than last season,” the officer said.

Officials suspect that Public Distribution System (PDS) rice or paddy brought from other states — especially Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh — may have been shown as local produce. “Some millers bring PDS rice or paddy from outside Haryana at cheaper rates and adjust it against the custom-milled rice (CMR) delivered to the FCI at government rates. For this, manipulation of records and fake entries through bogus gate passes are made,” explained another senior official.

The state has already seen three FIRs in Karnal for alleged “ghost” procurement, where paddy was shown as delivered on paper but never physically received. Investigators reportedly found that fake gate passes were generated using IP addresses outside the grain market premises.

Alarmed by the irregularities, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini chaired a high-level meeting on October 25 to review the situation. He directed officials to carry out physical verification in four districts, focusing on paddy and bajra procurement and the authenticity of digital gate passes.

“We are verifying vehicle entries in grain markets and checking IP addresses used for gate pass issuance,” said an official from the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, data from the e-Kshatipurti portal shows that nearly five lakh farmers across 6,395 villages have reported crop damage on about 31 lakh acres, including paddy, underlining the inconsistency between reported yield loss and surplus market arrivals.