Shortfall of 10 lakh paddy bags likely from flood-affected areas

This is usually the season when farmers across Punjab begin reaping fruits of their hard work and bring their harvest to mandis. But this year, the mood is somber in the district. A combination of haldi rog (a crop disease), erratic weather, and devastating floods has led to a sharp decline in the expected paddy yield.

Officials at the Kapurthala mandi are expecting a shortfall of over 10 lakh paddy bags from the flood-affected areas alone. In 2023–24, when floods hit the areas, 76,30,240 quintals of paddy had arrived in the mandis. The following year, arrivals slightly improved to 82,05,889 quintals.

One of the worst-hit regions is Sultanpur Lodhi and adjoining blocks where the crop on 32,053 acres was destroyed due to heavy flooding two month ago. Mandi officials and arhtiyas (commission agents) now say arrivals from these flood affected areas are expected to be very less.

“The situation is heartbreaking,” said Paramjit Singh, a farmer leader from Baupur village, adding that “Every year, farmers harvest their produce and return to mandis. But this time, it’s all gloomy. People are trying to rebuild their lives, and it’s getting tougher with each passing day.”

Adding to the crisis, many farmers are also struggling with mounting debts. They say that they had high hopes from compensation that the government would provide them.