Chandigarh, October 18
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday instructed senior IAS officers and Administrative Secretaries to oversee seamless paddy procurement operations during the festive season, ensuring a hassle-free process for farmers.
In a meeting held at his residence, the Chief Minister highlighted that despite severe flood-related challenges, Punjab is poised to contribute 175 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy to the national pool. Emphasizing the importance of efficient procurement, Mann directed officials to ensure every grain produced by Punjab’s hardworking farmers is purchased. He noted that the state government has established 1,822 regular purchase centers for the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025–26, all allocated by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs.
Mann reported that, as of Friday, 38.65 LMT of paddy had arrived in the mandis, with 37.20 LMT already procured. Adhering to the state’s 72-hour lifting policy, 100% of the procured paddy has been lifted. Payments amounting to ₹7,472.20 crore have been disbursed to farmers for the procured grains.
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Reaffirming the government’s commitment to procuring every grain, the Chief Minister stated he is personally monitoring the process to prevent any inconvenience to farmers. He highlighted innovative measures introduced to ensure transparent and efficient procurement, with comprehensive arrangements at the grassroots level to support farmers.
Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and other senior state officials attended the meeting.
