Paddy arrivals begin in mandis, farmers worried over lack of proper procurement arrangements: Randhawa
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Member of Parliament Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has urged the Punjab government to immediately put in place proper arrangements for the procurement of paddy as arrivals have begun in the mandis, so that farmers do not have to face difficulties while selling their produce.
City Air News
Sep 20, 2026 08:33
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Chandigarh, September 20, 2026: Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Member of Parliament Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has urged the Punjab government to immediately put in place proper arrangements for the procurement of paddy as arrivals have begun in the mandis, so that farmers do not have to face difficulties while selling their produce. At present, the government’s top priority should be to ensure smooth procurement, timely lifting of stocks and prompt payment to farmers. However, the government is not paying adequate attention to the mandis and paddy procurement. As a result, traders are purchasing paddy from farmers at lower prices.
Randhawa said farmers must receive a fair price for their produce, but at the ground level, several farmers are reportedly getting around ₹1,900 to ₹2,200 per quintal for paddy, while the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced for paddy for 2026-27 is ₹2,441 per quintal. He said that if farmers are forced to sell their produce below the MSP, it is a matter of serious concern, and the government must intervene immediately to safeguard the interests of farmers.
Randhawa said that over the past five years, the Punjab government has failed to formulate an agricultural policy and the government itself appears to be in a state of confusion. He said that every Kharif season brings fresh problems related to procurement, storage, milling and lifting of paddy. This year too, reports have highlighted pressure on storage capacity ahead of paddy arrivals, along with the issue of old wheat stocks lying with rice mills. He demanded that the government publicly release a clear action plan to ensure adequate gunny bags in mandis, the presence of procurement agencies, timely lifting of procured paddy, and payment of the full MSP to farmers without any deductions.
