Where is all this paddy coming from? Karnal admin to verify

An ‘unusual’ spike in paddy arrivals across various grain markets of the district has prompted the district administration to start a verification drive to cross-check the authenticity of recorded arrival with the actual production done by registered farmers on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB) portal.

Despite delayed harvesting and reports of low yield due to untimely rains and floods, some of the grain markets have reported higher arrivals than the corresponding period last year. Officials suspect discrepancies between the reported arrivals and the actual cultivation area of registered farmers.

As per data, the district has recorded 8,71,242 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy till October 20, compared to 7,15,326 MT during the same period last year. The rise has triggered concern, given that harvesting began later than usual this year and several reports indicate a lower yield per acre compared to the previous season.

Among the major grain markets, Indri recorded the highest jump with 34,182 MT more than last year, followed by Taraori (31,378 MT), Karnal (30,793 MT), Gharaunda (25,410 MT) and Assandh (15,735 MT).

This season, the Karnal grain market received 1,46,739 MT of paddy, up from 1,15,946 MT last year. Gharaunda recorded 99,016 MT against 73,606 MT, Assandh 1,27,372 MT against 1,11,635 MT, and Taraori 1,16,803 MT against 85,425 MT. Indri, which showed the largest increase, reported 1,06,247 MT this year compared to 72,065 MT last year.

Farmer unions have already raised questions over it, alleging paddy from UP and other states are being brought to the grain markets. On Tuesday, BKU president Gurnam Singh Charuni alleged, “Paddy is being purchased from UP at Rs 1,500 per quintal, while it is shown as being bought at MSP in Haryana’s mandis. Records are being manipulated, and lower quality grains are being mixed with government stocks.”

To check the reasons behind the rise, the district administration is going to verify paddy production details, as mentioned in the gate passes issued in their names. Officials will match the arrivals in each mandi with the registered land area on the portal and average production.

Dr Virender Singh Lather, former principal scientist of IARI, New Delhi, said paddy was being brought to different grain markets from UP and other states. “It is procured at low rates, and being adjusted in government procurement with an organised nexus of arhtiyas, millers, middlemen and officials of market committees,” he alleged.

DC Uttam Singh said a team of different departments would conduct field-level verification of farms and match data of the portal with e-Kharid records.