Conditional procurement launched to check smuggling of cheaper paddy

The Punjab Government has implemented “conditional paddy procurement” across the state amid suspicion of cheaper paddy from outside Punjab being sold to government procurement agencies here.

The decision was conveyed to all Deputy Commissioners by the Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, at a meeting on Monday. Conditional procurement began on Monday and will continue till Tuesday.

From Wednesday, no paddy will be procured without prior approval from the respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs). An officer of the Executive Magistrate rank will supervise such purchase and personally inspect paddy brought for sale. The government has also started winding up temporary paddy purchase centres.

Last week, similar measures were enforced in the border districts of Fazilka, Tarn Taran and Amritsar, where, despite widespread paddy crop damage due to floods in August-September, arrivals matched last year’s levels.

Principal Secretary Rahul Tiwari reportedly instructed the DCs that, for Monday and Tuesday, paddy would only be purchased if a photograph of the heap was taken with the farmer, procurement agency inspector and Mandi supervisor, all holding that day’s newspaper. These photos must be sent to the District Food and Supplies Controllers by the evening for onward submission to the DCs.

From Wednesday, purchases would only be permitted with the DC’s approval and an Executive Magistrate must be present in the market at the time of procurement, appearing in the required photograph.

So far, 149.31 lakh metric tonne (LMT) paddy has been procured in state’s mandis. With paddy crop damaged on 3.47 lakh acres due to floods and rain two months ago, the government suspects paddy from states like Rajasthan, where procurement is said to be tardy, is being smuggled and sold at minimum support price (MSP) in Punjab.

A senior official said, “The illegal practice has been going on for the past many years, but this year, since the initial procurement target was set at 175 LMT and paddy crop was damaged in August-September, the unscrupulous elements saw a wider scope for their illicit business. That is why the government remained vigilant through the paddy procurement season and several FIRs were registered in Fazilka, Muktsar and Bathinda. The paddy season is now almost over, and our revised estimates of paddy procurement now stand at around 155-160 LMT, as daily arrivals have now started dipping. Yesterday’s paddy arrival was just 2.19 LMT.”