Robust arrangements have been made in all the mandis of Punjab, where the paddy procurement began on Sunday for the 2023-24 season. No stone would be left unturned to ensure that the stakeholders, that is the farmers, arhtiyas (commission agents), and the labourers, face no difficulty in the mandis and the entire process of procurement and lifting is carried out in a hassle free manner.

Proper sanitation, water and arrangements with regard to the toilets have been made in the mandis, said the state Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs’s secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.

The Secretary assured that the Punjab Government stands fully committed to procure every single bale of grain produced so laboriously by the farmers apart from ensuring prompt lifting.

As regards payments, the Secretary said that though the payments are credited into the accounts of the farmers within the time span of 24 hours and even earlier but since today, that is October 1 and October 2, are the holidays and banks would be closed, the payments pertaining to the first day's procurement would be made on October 3. However, all the formalities pertaining to getting the bills ready would be completed so as to make sure that on October 3, the payments are released promptly, he added.

The Secretary apprised that the Mandi Board is also ensuring that the procurement process is carried out smoothly. The J Form would be sent directly at the phones of the farmers who don't have to make rounds of the offices to get the same. Apart from this, the exercise related to the allotment, registration and linkage of the shellers has been completed and each mandi has been linked to a sheller.

The farmers should take care to bring their produce in the mandis only after drying the moisture as the moisture content causes unnecessary delay in drying the crop which is time consuming thus causing glut in the mandis, added the Secretary.