Paddy procurement: 1.37 LMT crop reaches market

The procurement of paddy is going on smoothly across the 48 purchase centres of the district. To ensure that farmers do not face any inconvenience, senior officials are visiting and monitoring the markets, said Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney.

She informed that till last evening, 1,37,087 metric tonnes of paddy had arrived in the mandis, out of which 1,36,736 metric tonnes have been purchased by various government procurement agencies. Payments worth Rs 270 crore have already been released to farmers.

The Deputy Commissioner stated that the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy has been fixed at Rs 2,389 per quintal by the government. She advised that the moisture content in paddy should not exceed 17 per cent for procurement. She appealed to farmers to bring only dry paddy to the mandis so that there is no delay in purchase.

“The Punjab Government will procure every grain produced by farmers, so there is no need to rush. Farmers should dry their crops properly before bringing them to market, ensuring that procurement agencies can continue buying without any hindrance,” she said.

The Deputy Commissioner also appealed to farmers to avoid stubble burning and manage crop residue responsibly. She assured that the district administration stands with the farmers and will make sure they do not face any problems during procurement.

Providing further details, District Food and Supplies Officer Amanjit Singh said so far, Pungrain has purchased 56,517 MT, Markfed 38,535 MT, Punsup 20,870 MT, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 18,803 MT, and private agencies 2,011 MT of paddy.

He added that payments to farmers are being made within the stipulated time as per government directions. He also urged farmers to bring completely dry paddy to the mandis to ensure immediate lifting and smooth procurement.

Amritsar