Kataruchak says no grain from other states will be allowed into Punjab's mandis; ministers and MLAs to visit mandis

Chandigarh: Punjab has finalised all arrangements for the state's paddy procurement, which begins on October 1. Ahead of the season, the Centre has sanctioned a cash credit limit (CCL) of 42,786.68 crore for October, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said.

He said the CCL approval will allow farmers to be paid promptly and without hurdles for the paddy bought by the state. About 5 lakh bardana (gunny bags) have already reached the mandis for filling the grain. The state has set a procurement target of 180 lakh metric tonnes for the 2026-27 season, with paddy to be bought at 2,461 per quintal.

A total of 1,887 mandis have been notified for the purpose, and additional ones will be made functional if needed. Kataruchak said the government will buy every grain of the crop and will not allow any grain from other states to enter Punjab's mandis. He assured that farmers and arhtiyas will face no trouble during the season, and said he, along with all the state's ministers and MLAs, will visit the mandis to monitor the process.