Paddy procurement: High arrivals, low relief amid crop disease concerns

As the paddy procurement season peaks across the district, mandis are witnessing heavy inflow of grain amid mixed emotions among farmers.

According to figures shared by the Punjab Mandi Board, with over 6.21 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy arriving in district markets, Khanna Mandi leads with 1.14 lakh MT, reflecting the region’s robust agricultural output. Yet, behind the numbers lies a season marked by distress.

So far, 6.04 lakh MT of paddy has been procured — entirely by government agencies as private buyers remain absent. As many as 17,445 MT of paddy remains unsold and 4.79 lakh MT has been lifted. The maximum procurement price touched Rs 2,389 per quintal, offering some relief, but not enough to offset challenges farmers are facing.

Meanwhile, basmati arrivals across Jagraon, Khanna, Maachiwara, Mullanpur Dakha and Raikot totalled 25,576 MT, all purchased by private agencies. The entire stock has been sold, with 25,461 MT lifted. Prices ranged from Rs 2,850 to Rs 3,360 per quintal, depending on quality and demand.

However, farmers say this season has been particularly harsh due to widespread crop diseases. “False smut and discoloration have ruined a large portion of our harvest,” said Harbhajan Singh, a farmer from Raikot. “Even if the grain reaches the mandi, we are unsure if it’ll be accepted.”

Another farmer, Baldev Kaur from Maachiwara, said: “RBSDV, a plant pathogenic virus, has hit our fields hard. We’ve spent more on inputs and now face deductions due to quality issues. The government must consider disease impact while evaluating procurement norms.”

With no private purchase of regular paddy and mounting concerns over disease-related rejections, farmer unions are urging authorities to relax procurement norms and expedite lifting and payments. “We’re not asking for charity — just fairness,” said Gurpreet Singh, who was waiting at Khanna mandi with his unsold stock.