CM Mann Urges Centre to Move 6 LMT Rice and 15 LMT Wheat from Punjab, Warns of Paddy Procurement Disruptions

Chandigarh, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has urged the Centre to immediately move 6 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of rice and 15 LMT of wheat from the state to prevent a shortage of storage space from disrupting the ongoing paddy procurement season and causing difficulties for farmers in mandis.

In a letter to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, Mann sought urgent intervention to ensure the movement of 6 LMT of rice by October 10 and 15 LMT of wheat during October 2026. He warned that delays in clearing existing foodgrain stocks could affect procurement, milling and storage operations during the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2026-27.

The Chief Minister said nearly 40 LMT of wheat procured during the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2026-27 had been stored at rice mills and mandi yards because of inadequate storage capacity in Punjab. Of this, around 17 LMT was still lying at these facilities, occupying crucial space required for the incoming paddy crop.

Mann pointed out that Punjab had requested the Centre to move 15 LMT of rice and 10-12 LMT of wheat during September to facilitate the completion of rice deliveries from KMS 2025-26 and clear storage facilities ahead of the new procurement season. However, only 8.30 LMT of rice and 4.30 LMT of wheat had been moved out of the state between September 1 and 29.

According to the Chief Minister, Punjab had delivered 99.50 LMT, or 94 per cent, of the custom-milled rice due to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for KMS 2025-26, against the total requirement of 105.64 LMT. Nearly 6 LMT of rice was still pending delivery, largely because of persistent storage constraints faced by the FCI.

With peak paddy arrivals expected around October 10, Mann stressed that the pending rice stocks must be cleared promptly to avoid the carryover of paddy stocks into the next procurement season and complications in stock accounting and the recycling of paddy and rice.

He also cautioned that delays in rice milling and delivery were creating dissatisfaction among rice millers. If rice delivery extended beyond mid-October, millers could be reluctant to participate in the storage and milling of the new paddy crop, potentially creating difficulties for farmers and other stakeholders.

The Chief Minister highlighted that Punjab had repeatedly requested the Centre since June 2026 to ensure the monthly movement of at least 10 LMT of wheat and rice. However, the movement figures reflected varying levels of clearance.

Foodgrain Movement from Punjab

Mann said the slow movement of wheat stocks between June and September had left substantial quantities stored in rice mills and mandi yards, creating a serious space constraint ahead of the peak paddy arrivals.

He warned that without the immediate clearance of these stocks, farmers could face difficulties unloading their produce in mandis, while rice mills might lack adequate space to store paddy. Such a situation could disrupt procurement operations and potentially lead to law-and-order concerns during the peak arrival period in the sensitive border state.

The Chief Minister also expressed concern that rice millers could refuse allotment, storage and milling of paddy, citing inadequate space at their premises.

Seeking the Union Minister’s personal intervention, Mann requested that the Department of Food and Public Distribution and the FCI headquarters be directed to ensure the movement of 6 LMT of rice between October 1 and 10 and 15 LMT of wheat during October.

He said timely transportation of the foodgrain stocks was essential to ensure uninterrupted procurement during KMS 2026-27, provide adequate storage space and prevent avoidable difficulties for farmers and other stakeholders.