Paddy procurement in Punjab to begin on October 1; Mandi Board orders arrangements at 1,886 centres

Government procurement of paddy in Punjab will begin on October 1, and the Punjab Mandi Board has directed officials to have all 1,886 mandis and procurement centres in the state fully prepared before then.

Mandi Board chairman Harchand Singh Barsat said the government was committed to buying every grain of paddy brought to the markets. He directed officials to ensure cleanliness, an uninterrupted power supply, drinking water, toilets and seating in the mandis, along with shaded rest areas for labourers.

A control room will also function at the Mandi Board headquarters from October 1 to resolve problems that arise during the season.

Ahead of the season, the Punjab Cabinet approved the Custom Milling Policy, the Transportation Policy and the Labour and Cartage Policy, aimed at ensuring that farmers do not face unnecessary difficulties during procurement and that paddy is lifted from the mandis on time.

Meanwhile, early arrivals of paddy have begun in mandis at several places, including Jalandhar, Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib, where farmers are waiting for government purchases to start.