Paddy procurement in Punjab begins

September 17, 2025

Abhishek Vij

After recovering from the hospital, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had announced in his first press conference that, in view of the economic loss of the farmers, this time the paddy procurement is being started 15 days earlier, i.e., from 16 September, to give them cash in their hands. Paddy procurement is starting from today. However, due to the floods in Punjab, the arrival of farmers in the mandis is expected to be less. The gathering of commission agents and palledars is also seen very little at the moment. Earlier, in those days, the faces of the farmers used to light up on seeing their crops. However, this time, due to extraordinary rains, the paddy was inundated with water to such an extent that the crop was ruined.

About 4.50 lakh acres of crops have been damaged due to the floods. The damage caused to houses and fields is different from this. On the other hand, as far as the quality of paddy is concerned, the sale of Parmal paddy is more. But

Due to the weather, there is so much moisture in the paddy that it is not being purchased right now. Farmers demand that if the moisture percentage is increased, it will be easier for them to sell their crops. Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian said that the government has started a five-day campaign to restart regular mandis. In this, all the mandis will be made fully functional by clearing the accumulated water and silt in the flood-affected mandis. The officials will put more effort into those places where the damage caused by the flood is greater.

The target has been set that all the mandis will be cleaned, restored, and made functional by 19 September. At present, the situation is such that the damaged roads leading to these mandis will be repaired. Punjab is going through a big disaster at this time. The paddy crop has been destroyed, and the farmers are in financial crisis. In such a situation, the target set by the government for paddy purchase may remain less than the target. Anyway, the government has announced to give compensation at the rate of twenty thousand rupees per acre.

Now another challenge has arisen that the fields which were filled with flood water, now, after the water has receded, sand and debris have accumulated there. How to remove it is a big concern. The government has given permission to remove it till 31 December. But that is not such an easy task. Farmers will have to spend a lot on removing the sand and debris. After this, money will also have to be spent to prepare the land that will be acquired for the next wheat crop. Now the farmers hope that if they get full compensation, then their expenses will be covered. If the land is not ready, then how will the farmer sow the next crop?

It should not happen that the farming of Punjab remains stuck at this stage. If the crops come late, then their quality will also decrease because even after removing the sand, it will take time to destroy the rotten remains of paddy. Therefore, the problem is not only of selling the entire crop, but also of preparing the fields for the next crop. Here, the houses and livestock of the farmers have also suffered huge losses. Wherever the houses of farmers have collapsed or their structure has become dilapidated, it will cost a lot to rebuild them. Only if the farmers get full compensation, then only will things work out. There is also the problem of the animals of the farmers. Many animals died, and those that did not get proper fodder fell sick. Farming also depends on animals to a great extent. If the farmers get proper compensation for the loss of livestock, then something will work out.