Punjab Newsline | Jagraon
Paddy procurement is progressing smoothly across Punjab, with around 8.50 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy arriving in grain markets across the state, of which 7.50 lakh MT has already been procured by various government agencies.
Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said this while reviewing procurement arrangements at the Jagraon grain market. Jagraon MLA Sarvjit Kaur Manuke accompanied him during the visit.
Kataruchak said that a target of procuring 180 lakh MT of paddy has been fixed for the 2026-27 procurement season. Farmers are being paid Rs 2,461 per quintal for their crop.
He said the Reserve Bank of India has released a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of Rs 42,786.68 crore for paddy procurement, ensuring timely and hassle-free payments to farmers. He added that adequate bardana (gunny bags) has also reached the grain markets.
The minister assured farmers that the Punjab government would procure every single grain of the state's crop and would not allow paddy from other states to enter Punjab's mandis. He said that all necessary steps were being taken to ensure that farmers and commission agents do not face any difficulties during the procurement season.
Kataruchak said that, on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, he has been visiting grain markets across Punjab to review procurement arrangements. Ludhiana is the 11th district he has visited as part of the ongoing review. He said payments for procured paddy are being transferred directly into farmers' bank accounts within 24 hours.
The minister directed officials to ensure there are no problems related to transportation, payments, bardana or lifting of procured paddy. Calling farmers the state's "Annadatas", he said they must be treated with full respect.
He also appealed to farmers to bring only dry and clean paddy to the mandis so that procurement can be carried out without delay.
Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements at the Jagraon grain market, Kataruchak said it was one of the major grain markets in the region. He particularly appreciated the arrangements made there, including lighting facilities installed at a cost of around Rs 2.5 crore with the efforts of MLA Sarvjit Kaur Manuke.
Chairman of Market Committee Jagraon Kulwinder Singh Jhajj, Deputy Director of the Food and Civil Supplies Department Dr Navneet, District Food Supply Controller (Ludhiana West) Sartaj Singh Cheema, Arhtiya Association Jagraon president Jagpal Singh Kaler, Rice Mill Association president Hari Om Mittal, besides several commission agents and farmers, were present during the visit.
