National Desk
30 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Farmers in Punjab are struggling as the slow pace of paddy procurement keeps them waiting in mandis, even on Diwali. The state government set a target to procure 180 to 185 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy this season, yet only 78 lakh MT has arrived in the markets, with 73.27 lakh MT purchased so far. Today alone, 6.22 lakh MT of paddy arrived, but only 4.93 lakh MT was lifted from mandis.
Farmer leader Raminder Singh Patiala expressed frustration, blaming the Punjab and Central governments for neglecting the farmers, causing them to spend Diwali waiting for their crops to be purchased. He called for quicker procurement efforts so that farmers can return home.
To address other challenges, the Punjab government has set up helplines to report dealers who push the sale of unnecessary chemicals alongside DAP and other fertilizers. Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian urged farmers to report such cases by calling the helpline 1100 or sending a WhatsApp message to +91-98555-01076. Authorities promise strict action against dealers engaging in unethical practices, aiming to support farmers’ welfare during the procurement season.