Despite arrangements, no paddy arrival on 1st day in Fatehgarh Sahib mandis

Even though the government has announced paddy procurement from September 16, it has not yet arrived in Asia’s second biggest grain market of Sirhind and any other grain market in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Sona Thind said the district administration had made all arrangements for the smooth procurement of the grain at all 32 procurement centres of the district.

She said as approximately 5 lakh MT of paddy was expected this year in the grain markets of the district, all arrangements of lifting and storing had been made. Commission agents, rice millers and farmers had been apprised of the guidelines of the government. Also farmers, commission agents and labourers in the mandis had been given information in this regard, she added.

She urged the commission agents to advise the farmers to bring only dry paddy to the mandis so that they do not have to face any problem in selling their crop. She said various steps had been taken to prevent stubble burning and the administration would adopt a zero-tolerance policy to prevent incidents of stubble burning.

Meanwhile, Sadhu Ram Bhattmajra, president, District Arthia Association, said it would take another 15 days to harvest paddy. He said rains had delayed harvesting as well as affected the yield, which was likely to be less compared to previous years. He pleaded governments to forward to help the farming community.