Mandis brace for slow start as paddy procurement gets underway today in Ludhiana dist

As paddy procurement officially begins on Tuesday, grain markets are bracing for a slow start. Despite the government’s decision to advance the procurement date to September 15, not much produce is expected to arrive immediately due to widespread crop damage after continuous rainfall and floods.

Farmers who had sown early-maturing varieties and plan to follow it up with potato cultivation before wheat sowing are now facing unexpected setbacks. Many began harvesting their paddy early to clear fields for the next crop, but the results have been disappointing.

Davinder Singh, a farmer from Samrala, who had sown short-duration variety PR 1509, reported a sharp decline in output. “The yield has decreased to 16-17 quintals per acre, compared to the usual 24-26 quintals. I want to sow potato crop in between the wheat crop, so I went for short duration and have harvested my paddy crop,” he said. Other farmers echoed similar concerns, citing poor yield.

Santokh Singh from Koom Kalan, who has also sown short-duration variety, said that the yield had decreased considerably due to the extreme weather conditions and continuous rainfall.

Expert from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Buta Singh attributed the drop in yield to untimely rains during the flowering stage. “Farmers who wanted to sow potatoes transplanted paddy early, but this year the flowering coincided with heavy rains, which severely affected grain formation and quality,” Singh explained.

Agricultural experts recommend transplanting paddy in the second fortnight of July and raising nurseries in June to avoid such issues. However, potato growers often opt for early nursery to ensure field clearance by October 1, the peak harvesting window. This leads to a compromise in crop health and yield, especially for varieties like PR 126.

“The situation is particularly concerning in basmati-producing belts, where early sowing and weather disruptions can lead to financial distress. Farmers fear that continued crop damage could threaten their seasonal income and long-term sustainability,” added an expert.

Meanwhile, another challenge that the farmers are facing is sharp rise in brown plant hopper population in state. These pests, which thrive in hot and humid conditions, suck sap from rice plants, causing them to become yellow, wilt and eventually die — a phenomenon known as “hopper burn”.

The PAU has issued advisory, urging farmers to monitor their fields by gently shaking plants and check for floating hoppers. If infestation exceeds five hoppers per plant, farmers have been advised to use the PAU-recommended insecticides and focus on application at the plant base for maximum effectiveness. The compounded impact of fungal damage and pest infestation threatens to devastate yield in Punjab’s key paddy producing belts.