Punjab: Many farmers delay paddy harvest due to procurement pangs

PTI Hoshiarpur/Kapurthala (Pb): Ravinder Singh, a farmer in Hoshiarpur, has delayed harvesting of his paddy crop sown over two acres of land, fearing that the produce will not be lifted in the wake of "tardy" purchase in mandis in Punjab. Like Singh, there are many farmers in the state, who are not harvesting paddy as grain markets are bursting at the seams with the Kharif crop piling up because of slow lifting and delayed procurement. Though the Punjab government claims that every grain will be purchased from farmers, several paddy growers said they were in need of money to repay loans, for events like wedding ceremonies and the "tardy" paddy procurement would put them under significant financial strain.

Paddy lifting from mandis in Punjab is hit after the state rice millers refused to mill the paddy till their demands are met. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to address the issues of the state rice millers. While the ruling AAP blamed the BJP-led Centre for not evacuating foodgrain stock in the state to create sufficient space for storing fresh crop, the opposition parties Congress and Akali Dal lashed out at the Bhagwant Mann government for the slow paddy procurement and lifting. Expressing frustration over the slow pace of paddy purchase, Ravinder Singh said he has not harvested his crop sown over two acres of land.

The Kangmai grain market, where he plans to sell his produce, is already full due to the backlog of unsold paddy, said Singh, who hails from Bhatolian village. He said he expects to spend long hours in the market once he harvests his crop. Another farmer Jagtar Singh, from Sataur village, said he took his produce to the Bagpur grain market about six days ago but it mains stacked because of lack of procurement.