3 days on, no paddy procurement in Fazilka as govt agencies ‘meet’ targets

The procurement of non-basmati varieties of paddy remained suspended in Fazilka for the third day on Monday, with the arrivals already “matching” this year’s targets surprisingly after floods destroyed crops on thousands of acres in the district.

Reacting to the development, the Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has written to the Fazilka Deputy Commissioner, along with that of the Amritsar and Tarn Taran, to explain reasons for it.

This comes amid allegations that the produce from Rajasthan has made it to the district as farmers and dealers from the neighbouring state are selling the crop at minimum support price (MSP) here to earn extra.

In a letter seeking a detailed report, Secretary-cum-Director of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Varinder Kumar Sharma said the agencies have procured 119.53 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy out of 122.56 MT that arrived in the mandis till November 1 for the central pool.

“As per data compiled on November 1, 98 per cent, 100 per cent, and 96 per cent of paddy arrivals have been recorded in Amritsar, Fazilka and Tarn Taran, respectively, as compared to the Kharif season 2024-25,” the letter stated.

“This is despite reports of reduced yield and damage to crops in these districts due to unseasonal rains and floods,” the letter added.

Sharma told The Tribune that they had instructed District Food and Civil Supplies Controllers (DFCSCs) to ensure smooth procurement.

“They have been told to verify actual arrivals at procurement centres. In mandis, where over 90 per cent of paddy has arrived, officials must photograph the stock along with a farmer holding a newspaper of the same date, clearly showing the date,” he said.

“After taking the photographs, it should be ensured that the arrival or procurement of paddy in the mandis is recorded so that the process could be carried out smoothly,” he added.

On this, DFCSC Vandana Kamboj said according to an Agriculture Department report, the area under parmal (non-basmati) varieties in Fazilka had increased to 28,000 hectares from last year’s 26,000 hectares.

On the suspension of procurement, she said, “The procurement was stopped for the past two days. Fresh instructions are awaited from the DC to restart the process now.”

Later in the evening, sources said photographs of some farmers were clicked but the procurement couldn’t start.

Launch probe: Farm leader

Farmer leader Sukhmandar Singh demanded a probe into the procurement process. “A huge quantity of paddy has entered from neighbouring Rajasthan and is being sold directly to rice millers, bypassing market committees and causing losses to the state exchequer,” he alleged.

Tota Singh, a farmer from Gobindgarh village, said, “I brought the produce of parmal variety from my five acres to the Abohar grain market today. The crop on 10 more acres is yet to be harvested.”

Several other farmers claimed that nearly 20 per cent of paddy was yet to be harvested in some parts of the district. They claimed that the peer acre average yield had decreased by 10-15 per cent this year.