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No grain will be left unprocured, assures Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak
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Strict instructions issued to officers for a hassle-free procurement process
Chandigarh/Bhogpur (Jalandhar), September 17, 2025
Punjab’s Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak officially launched the paddy procurement season today at Bhogpur Dana Mandi in Jalandhar district, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to procuring every single grain of farmers’ produce.
While reviewing the procurement arrangements, Kataruchak emphasized that under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s leadership, the state is fully committed to ensuring a smooth and hassle-free procurement season for all stakeholders.
Despite challenges posed by recent floods, comprehensive arrangements have been made across Punjab to ensure farmers face no difficulties in selling their crops, the Minister added.
Addressing the media, Kataruchak highlighted that farmers’ welfare remains the state’s top priority during procurement seasons. He announced that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy has been set at ₹2,389 per quintal. The government has secured Cash Credit Limits (CCL) of ₹15,000 crore for September and ₹27,000 crore for October. Adequate supplies of bardana (gunny bags) have also been arranged to prevent any inconvenience to farmers.
While the target for paddy procurement this year is 172 lakh metric tonnes (MT), arrangements have been made to procure up to 190 lakh MT to accommodate higher yields.
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The Minister assured that lifting and payments will occur simultaneously, with prompt transfers directly to farmers’ bank accounts. He directed officials from the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Punjab Mandi Board, and District Administration to personally oversee operations in mandis to ensure transparency and efficiency.
The Punjab Mandi Board has activated 1,822 mandis/purchase centers across the state, equipped with adequate electricity, clean drinking water, and other essential amenities to facilitate smooth procurement.
During his visit, Kataruchak interacted with farmers Gurkirat Singh, Jaspal Singh, and Sukhraj Singh, who praised the efficient procurement process at Bhogpur Dana Mandi. The Minister assured them of timely payments and urged farmers to bring only fully dried paddy to the mandis, as high moisture levels could complicate procurement.
Senior AAP leader Pawan Kumar Tinu, SDM Randeep Singh Heer, DFSC Harveen Kaur, and officials from various departments were also present at the event.
