Punjab government has made strong arrangements for uninterrupted purchase of paddy

The Punjab government has made strong arrangements for the purchase of paddy in the grain markets in preparation for the Kharif season. Facilities like moisture meters, cleanliness, electricity, water are being ensured in all the mandis. Flood-affected districts are also being monitored so that farmers do not face any kind of problem.

Edited By: Lalit Sharma

Last Updated : 28 August 2025, 10:52 PM IST

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National news: Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian announced that the Punjab government is accelerating preparations for the Kharif procurement season. He assured that concrete arrangements are being made to buy every grain of paddy from grain markets across the state, ensuring farmers face no difficulties during the process.

High-level review meeting held

Khuddian, accompanied by Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat, reviewed the procurement preparations at Kisan Bhawan. The meeting involved senior officers from the Agriculture, Food and Civil Supply, and Punjab Mandi Board departments to ensure smooth and efficient operations during the season.

Moisture meters to be installed

The minister stated that calibrated moisture meters, developed by Punjab Agricultural University, will be installed across all grain markets to ensure uniform measurement of moisture in crops. He also emphasized that infrastructure such as cleanliness, drinking water, sheds, and electricity is being arranged in markets and procurement centers to guarantee hassle-free procurement of paddy.

Flood situation reviewed via video

During the same meeting, Khuddian also reviewed the situation of flood-affected districts through video conferencing with Chief Agriculture Officers. Administrative Secretary Dr. Basant Garg instructed CAOs to support farmers in these difficult times and advised raising awareness among farmers to bring dry crops to markets to avoid selling issues.

Gunny bags arriving by mid-September

Punjab Mandi Board Secretary Ramvir confirmed that field staff have been deployed to provide facilities like electricity, sheds, toilets, and clean drinking water. Meanwhile, Director of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Varinder Kumar Sharma, informed that out of the required 5.40 lakh bales of gunny bags, around 3.50 lakh bales have been received, with the remaining expected by mid-September.