Paddy procurement to begin on Sept 16 in dist, grain market lies in a shambles

With paddy procurement set to begin on September 16 in the district, the main grain market located at the Jalandhar bypass is in a state of alarming neglect.

Visit to the market revealed a sprawling, open facility littered with garbage — plastic bags, food waste, paper and debris — scattered across the ground. Large black tarpaulins lie crumpled and soiled with the stench of the rotting waste hanging heavy in the air.

The market, which should be gearing up to receive thousands of tonnes of paddy, resembles an abandoned dumpyard.

Farmers arriving early to assess the site expressed concern over the lack of basic sanitation and infrastructure. “We’ve been coming here for years but I never seen the market in such a bad condition,” said Gurdev Singh from Pakhowal.

“There’s no place to sit, no clean area to unload our produce. If this is how the season going to start, it’s going to be chaos,” he said.

Another farmer, Balwinder Singh, from Jodhan said: “We’re supposed to bring our harvest here but the market looks like it has not been cleaned for weeks. The garbage is lying everywhere and there’s no sign of any arrangements for procurement.”

The market’s condition raises serious questions about preparedness and accountability. Despite repeated appeals from farmer unions for timely sanitation measures and logistical planning, the site remains unfit for operations. Commission agents and transporters also voiced frustration, noting that lack of cleanliness could lead to contamination of produce and delays in procurement.

“We’ve seen stray animals rummaging through the garbage. If the authorities don’t act fast, it will become a health hazard,” said Harjinder Singh, a local arhtiya.

Another farmer said: “We feed the nation but we’re forced to work in filth. Is this the respect we deserve?”

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said: “Officials of the Food, Civil and Supplies Department and Mandi Board have been asked to ensure all necessary arrangements in grain markets and temporary yards to ensure smooth purchase of paddy. The district administration has 108 grain markets and 79 temporary yards.”

On Sunday, he exhorted farmers to bring only dry paddy with 17 per cent or lower moisture content to grain markets to ensure a smooth procurement process, starting from September 16.

Jain said orders had already been issued to combine harvesters to operate between 10 am and 6 pm to ensure a smooth season. He said the administration would take strict action in case of violation of the guidelines and combines would be seized.

He said the farmers would not face any difficulties in selling their produce.

The Deputy Commissioner stressed that the state government would lift every single grain of paddy in a smooth and hassle-free manner during the procurement season.