In Muktsar, Just 20% of Procured Paddy Finds Its Way Out

(The Uttam Hindu) In Muktsar district, only 20 percent of the purchased paddy has been lifted from the mandis, leading to a critical shortage of space for unloading additional grain. As of Monday, a total of 59,904 metric tons (MT) of produce had arrived at the mandis, with 39,059 MT purchased; however, merely 7,781 MT has been removed from the markets so far.

Farmers are expressing growing frustration as the festive season begins. Ranjodh Singh, a local farmer, stated, “We are sitting at the grain markets to sell our produce, but the situation is worsening. Senior officers should visit the mandis as soon as possible.” Another farmer, Gurjit Singh, added that procurement agencies are failing to buy the produce on a daily basis.

Pradesh Congress Committee chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring visited the grain market at Kotbhai village in the Gidderbaha Assembly segment. He urged the state government to expedite the lifting process, warning that farmers would resort to protests if conditions did not improve.

Warring highlighted concerns raised by farmers, noting that only commission agents with rice mills were transporting the produce while the rest remained stranded in the mandis. He warned that if it rains, the responsibility for any losses incurred would fall on the authorities. Additionally, he raised alarms about reports of paddy being purchased below the minimum support price, urging the government to address the farmers' plight promptly.