Chandigarh, March 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Paramjit Singh Kainth, Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party Scheduled Castes Morcha, has termed the prompt action taken by the Central Government in view of the damage caused to the wheat crop due to unseasonal rains in Punjab as a major relief for farmers.
He stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party has always remained committed to farmers’ welfare and, over the past 11 years, has played a significant role in providing substantial relief and financial assistance to farmers across the country.
Expressing special gratitude to Narendra Modi and the Union Agriculture Minister, Kainth said that this intervention by the Central Government is directly in the interest of farmers and will provide them with significant financial support.
He said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the Central Government took immediate cognizance of the request received on April 9 and dispatched teams to all districts on April 10 to assess the ground situation.
Based on the report prepared after collecting 291 samples from 22 districts, the Food Corporation of India recommended relaxation in procurement norms, which was promptly approved by the Union Food Ministry.
Significant relaxation has been granted in wheat procurement norms for Punjab and Chandigarh for the Rabi Marketing Season 2026–27. The permissible limit for luster loss has been increased to 70 percent, while the limit for damaged and broken grains has been raised from 6 percent to 15 percent. At the same time, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,585 per quintal has been maintained without any reduction.
Kainth stated that these decisions will prevent distress sale of crops and ensure procurement at MSP despite deterioration in quality, thereby reducing the financial burden on farmers and ensuring smooth procurement operations during the current season.
As per the directions of the Central Government, food grains procured under relaxed norms will be stored separately with distinct accounting. The responsibility for any deterioration in quality during storage will lie with the State Government, and such stock will be disposed of on a priority basis.
Criticizing the Punjab Government, Kainth said that despite damage to nearly 1.30 lakh acres, the State Government failed to provide timely relief to farmers, leading to hesitation among procurement agencies in mandis. He added that the Central Government’s intervention has not only accelerated procurement but also ensured direct financial benefit to farmers.
He reiterated that the Central Government remains fully committed to protecting farmers’ interests and urged the State Government to act responsibly and take effective measures to safeguard farmers’ rights.
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