Kapurthala sets target to procure 8.20L MT paddy this season

With the paddy procurement season set to begin on September 15, Kapurthala district has set a target of procuring 8.20 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy this year. Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal reviewed procurement arrangements in a meeting held with officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Agriculture Department, Mandi Board and procurement agencies.

He stated that the total area under paddy cultivation in the district is 1.11 lakh hectares and that 42 mandis have been established across Kapurthala for smooth procurement operations. The Deputy Commissioner directed officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to ensure advance availability of gunny bags in adequate quantity. He also instructed the District Mandi Officer to maintain cleanliness in the mandis and ensure the provision of basic facilities such as lighting, drinking water and toilets so that farmers do not face any inconvenience while selling their produce.

DC Panchal appealed to farmers to harvest paddy only when the crop is fully mature and to bring only dry paddy to the mandis. He noted that the Government of India has fixed the acceptable moisture content in paddy at 17 per cent at the time of procurement.

To ensure compliance, he directed the Chief Agriculture Officer to organise special awareness camps in villages to motivate farmers to bring properly dried paddy to procurement centres.

The Deputy Commissioner also announced that harvesting will be allowed from 10 am to 6 pm. He further directed combine harvester owners and operators to ensure the mandatory use of Super SMS (Straw Management System) during paddy harvesting. He made it clear that implementation of SMS on combine harvesters is compulsory and must be strictly followed by all operators.