In a significant move to protect farmers’ interests, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday announced that government procurement of paddy will begin two weeks earlier than usual—from September 15 instead of the traditional October 1 start. The decision aims to reduce crop damage caused by increased moisture levels during colder nights and early mornings in October.
CM Mann made the announcement after inaugurating a public library in his home constituency of Dhuri. He said the shift in procurement timeline comes in response to the state government’s earlier decision to allow paddy transplantation from June 1 instead of June 15.
“Since farmers were permitted to transplant paddy earlier this year, the crop will begin reaching grain markets 15 days in advance. Procurement agencies will now be ready to handle this early arrival,” the Chief Minister said, adding that this step will help avoid complications during procurement caused by high moisture levels.
Mann said that in previous years, farmers were often subjected to harassment at grain markets during procurement due to moisture-related issues. “Blackmailing of farmers also starts in grain markets around that time. We want to end that,” he said.
The Chief Minister also raised the issue of commission agents (arhtiyas), saying he had recently met Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi and urged him to increase the commission paid to arhtiyas during procurement.
“He assured me of action in this regard,” Mann said, adding that if required, the state government would lead a delegation of arhtiyas to Delhi to meet the Union Minister.
The early procurement schedule is expected to ease pressure on both farmers and procurement agencies and ensure better quality control, especially in the wake of weather fluctuations during the post-monsoon period.