Amritsar, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Thursday reviewed paddy procurement arrangements at Raiya Grain Market in Amritsar district, assuring farmers that the state government would procure every grain produced through their hard work and ensure timely payments.
Accompanied by Baba Bakala Sahib MLA Dalbir Singh Tong, Nagar Council Raiya president Sanjeev Bhandari, Jathedar Baldev Singh Bodhewal, Block Samiti member Rajiv Bhandari, Arhtiya Association president and District Food and Civil Supplies Controller Jatin Verma, the minister inspected arrangements at the mandi and interacted with farmers, labourers, commission agents and officials of procurement agencies.
Kataruchak congratulated farmers on the start of the procurement season and distributed sweets to farmers Gagandeep Singh Gagrewal and Parminder Singh Jallupur following the purchase of their paddy.
He said government procurement had commenced across Punjab on October 1. Facilities, including shade, clean drinking water, sanitation and electricity, had been arranged at mandis to facilitate farmers and ensure smooth operations.
Punjab has been allocated a procurement target of 180 lakh metric tonnes of paddy for the 2026-27 season. The minister said 1,887 mandis had been notified across the state, with additional centres to be made operational if required. The department has also received five lakh gunny bags for packing the produce.
Kataruchak said the state had secured approval for a Cash Credit Limit of Rs 42,786.68 crore for October to support procurement operations. Paddy would be purchased at the rate of Rs 2,461 per quintal, with payments to farmers to be made within 24 hours of procurement, he said.
He added that medical facilities and drinking water had also been arranged for labourers involved in unloading and packing paddy, stressing that the government aimed to protect the interests of farmers, commission agents and labourers.
The minister urged farmers to harvest their crops only after full maturity and bring properly dried paddy to the mandis. He said the Centre had prescribed a maximum permissible moisture content of 17 per cent for procurement.
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