DC Jain reviews arrangements for paddy procurement

Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, in a review meeting held on Wednesday, reaffirmed the Punjab Government’s commitment, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, to ensure a smooth and hassle-free paddy procurement process to support farmers during the current season.

In a meeting with the officials from Food, Civil and Supplies Department, Mandi Board and procurement agencies, Jain emphasised that the state government was dedicated to lifting every grain of paddy efficiently. He stated that the district administration had made comprehensive arrangements to ensure prompt lifting of harvests from grain markets, guaranteeing that farmers faced no difficulties in selling their produce.

To streamline operations, Jain directed all sub divisional magistrates (SDMs) and heads of procurement agencies to personally oversee paddy procurement activities across the district’s grain markets. He reported that 500 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy had already arrived, with an estimated 16.55 lakh MT expected to arrive in the markets soon.

To ensure quality, Jain also urged farmers to bring only dry paddy with a moisture content of 17 per cent or lower to the mandis. He also announced strict regulations on combine harvesters, restricting their operation to between 10 am and 6 pm. Violators would face stringent action, including equipment seizure, to enforce compliance, he added.