Paddy lifting yet to begin, farmers fume

Farmers are frustrated because of no procurement even after six days. The procurement season starts on October 1 and even after almost a week, no purchase has been made.

A few days ago at Kohala Mandi, some quantity of the crop was procured by Pungrain and Markfed. But, otherwise, the lifting is not being done anywhere.

There are 12 market committees of the district — Jalandhar city, Bilga, Shahkot, Phillaur, Nurmahal, Nakodar, Lohian Khas, Jalandhar Cantt, Goraya, Bhogpur and Adampur — and are 79 mandis under these committees.

There is a similar kind of situation in Nawanshahr too. Some procurement had been reported from the main mandi in Banga two days ago, while rest of the mandis are drawing blank. Mandi Board officials said arhtiyas have already asked the farmers to not bring their produce in the mandis which is why the arrival is also less. There are 30 mandis in Nawanshahr under three market committees — Banga, Balachaur, and Nawanshahr.

Sukhwinder Singh, a farmer from Sidhupur village in Lohian, said his crop was lying in the mandi and no procurement could take off. “I have been visiting the mandi to have a look at the paddy grains. It is important at this point to keep a watch on the produce,” he said.