Kharif Paddy Procurement in Punjab: Centre Plans to Procure 185 Lakh Tonnes for 2024-25 Season

The Centre has announced plans to purchase 185 lakh tonnes of paddy from Punjab during the kharif marketing season of 2024-25. The Union Food Ministry confirmed that procurement began on October 1 and is progressing well, despite concerns from the Punjab government about storage capacity and challenges faced by millers and commission agents.

Representative image

Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi met with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to address issues related to the ongoing paddy procurement. The meeting focused on ensuring smooth operations for the kharif marketing season of 2024-25. Mann highlighted that paddy procurement is crucial for Punjab's economy, likening it to a festival in the state.

Paddy Procurement and Storage Challenges

In the previous season, Punjab achieved its target by procuring 124.14 lakh tonnes of rice. For KMS 2024-25, the government has approved an equivalent procurement of 124 lakh tonnes of rice, translating to 185 lakh tonnes of paddy. The Centre is procuring this amount without any restrictions.

Currently, over 2,200 mandis are operational in Punjab for paddy procurement. By October 13, around 7 lakh tonnes of paddy had arrived, with about 6 lakh tonnes already procured for the central pool. Procurement will continue until November 30, 2024.

Addressing Storage and Payment Concerns

Mann expressed concerns about storage space shortages from the previous season. Only about seven lakh tonnes of storage space is available currently, causing dissatisfaction among rice millers. To address this, a plan is in place to create around 40 lakh tonnes of storage by December 2024 by clearing out old stocks.

The Centre has implemented measures to ensure farmers receive their minimum support price (MSP) payments directly into their bank accounts within 48 hours. This includes online registration, land record integration, digital procurement operations, and online MSP payment transfers.

Additional Issues and Solutions

Several other issues were discussed during the meeting. These included reviewing commission rates for paddy procurement, updating the WINGS portal, and addressing additional transportation charges incurred by millers. The government assured that these matters would be examined and resolved favorably.

A study on the Out Turn Ratio (OTR) and driage of paddy is currently being conducted at IIT Kharagpur. Data updates on the WINGS Warehouse Inventory Network & Governing System portal have been completed, providing visibility to all stakeholders.

The government is actively considering revising commission charges, with a decision expected soon. These efforts aim to streamline processes and address concerns raised by stakeholders in Punjab's paddy procurement system.