Patiala: Early paddy arrivals and procurement across Punjab’s mandis have outpaced figures from the corresponding period last year so far, crossing the 21 lakh metric tonne (LMT) mark.




According to Punjab Mandi Board data recorded till Sunday, 21.5 LMT of paddy has arrived in state grain markets, of which govt procurement agencies have purchased 20.5 LMT. Nearly 8 LMT of the procured grain has already been lifted from mandi premises.




The early momentum marks an improvement over the 2025 Kharif marketing season , when arrivals stood at 18 LMT and procurement at 16.5 LMT by October 11.




Direct payments exceeding Rs 4,200 crore have been disbursed to farmers' bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), according to officials, supported by Reserve Bank of India ’s sanctioned Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of Rs 42,786.68 crore for the Kharif procurement target of 180 LMT.




​To facilitate operations, the state govt notified 1,840 regular purchase centres and over 350 temporary yards across Punjab.




In Patiala district alone, 104 permanent procurement yards and 77 temporary collection centres are operational to manage harvest peaks and prevent vehicular logjams outside mandis.




​While Punjab Mandi Board officials maintained that overall grain quality has avoided catastrophic damage from the weekend downpour, localised gaps in storage infrastructure have caused farmer distress.




At the Nabha grain market , harvest piled under sheds suffered water damage due to persistent overhead leaks and inadequate tarpaulin cover. Farmers expressed concern over elevated moisture levels, warning that exceeding the prescribed 17% permissible limit could lead to procurement deductions or purchase delays by govt inspectors.




​Food and civil supplies officials reiterated that field staff have been directed to prioritise drainage and ensure swift procurement once grains meet moisture specifications.




Patiala district mandi officer Mohd Aslam has issued notices to some arhtiyas whose paddy yield was lying uncovered. He said that the shed at Nabha grain market witnessed partial damage and was being repaired.