The lifting of paddy in the mandis of Punjab touched 104 lakh metric tonne (LMT) on Monday. As far as arrival is concerned, more than 127 LMT of paddy has arrived and 124 LMT has been procured.
According to food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, necessary arrangements have been made in the mandis with a view to ensure that no stakeholder — farmers, commission agents (arhtiyas) and labourers — encounters any difficulty.
A total of 150-155 LMT paddy is expected to be procured this season which is a fall of 20% from the total expected procurement of 180-185 lakh tonne. The yield has witnessed acute fall because of the floods and incessant rainfall that continued till September.
The state government started the procurement on September 16 apprehending early arrival as short duration varieties were cultivated.
According to Kataruchak, ₹27,000 crore has been credited into the accounts of the farmers, adding that the farming community should bring dry produce in the mandis so as to get full value of their produce.