Procurement of paddy in Punjab from Sept 15 as govt advances date

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said government agencies would start procuring paddy two weeks in advance from September 15 to prevent damage to crop due to high moisture level.

The procurement process used to start every year from October 1. The moisture level in the crop spikes in October due to colder nights and morning hours. The CM made the announcement after inaugurating a public library in Dhuri.

Earlier, the state government had allowed the transplantation of paddy from June 1 instead of June 15.

“Due to this, the crop will start arriving in grain markets 15 days in advance,” he said.

Mann said earlier farmers faced harassment during the procurement process due to high moisture levels.

“At that time, blackmailing of farmers also starts in grain markets,” he said.

The CM also said he recently met Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi, asking him to increase the commission of the arhtiyas (commission agents).

He said the Union Minister had given assurance to him in this regard.

“If needed, the government would lead a delegation of arhtiyas to meet the Union Minister in Delhi,” he added.