Chandigarh, September 30
The government has decided to postpone paddy procurement from Punjab and Haryana till October 11, following high moisture content in the crop because of the recent spell of heavy rainfall in the region. The procurement was to begin in Punjab from October 1.
Also read: Allow purchase from today, Punjab CM Channi urges PM Modi
Early variety of produce arrives in Jalandhar mandi
- Unaware of the government’s decision to postpone the paddy procurement, around 10 tractor-trailers with early varieties of paddy arrived in the Dana Mandi in Jalandhar on Thursday
- This year, apart from regular 78 grain markets, 26 public places have also been set up as temporary purchase centres for procurement of paddy. However, rice millers are yet to be contacted by the mandi board
- Naresh Gulati, an agriculture officer, said: “This year, around 10.50 LMT paddy is expected to arrive in the market against last year’s 8.50-9 LMT. Around 4.25 lakh acres were covered under paddy this season.”
In a letter to the state government, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said because of the recent rain, the maturity of paddy had been delayed and moisture content in the fresh arrival was beyond the permissible limit. “So to avoid any inconvenience to farmers, it has been decided that the procurement under the MSP will commence from October 11,” it said. The state governments have been advised to dry the paddy that has already arrived in mandis. —TNS
Centre puts off paddy procurement from Punjab, Haryana till Oct 11
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