1 Jul 2025
The Punjab government has formally requested the Centre to expedite the clearance of storage space in preparation for the upcoming paddy procurement season. To accommodate the incoming crop, the state has asked the Centre to relocate at least 12 lakh tonnes (lt) of stored grains from its warehouses each month.
The request was made during a recent meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted to oversee wheat and paddy procurement in Punjab. The GoM, led by Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, and comprising Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, resolved to initiate procurement preparations nearly four months ahead of schedule.
Officials emphasized that while efforts are underway to create 40 lt of additional storage capacity by December, the immediate solution lies in the consistent movement of surplus stock out of the state. The ministers also informed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has personally taken up the matter with the Centre to ensure timely support.
In a bid to enhance long-term storage capacity, a high-level committee from the Punjab government has submitted proposals to construct new godowns with a total capacity of 46 lt. Meanwhile, the existing infrastructure is being expanded, with 82–83 lt of storage expected to be ready by June next year.
The procurement of paddy is scheduled to begin on October 1 and will continue until mid-November. Kataruchak revealed that an estimated 175–180 lt of paddy is expected to arrive in mandis during the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season, necessitating large-scale logistical arrangements.
So far, over 100 lt of rice has already been delivered, with projections indicating this will rise to 117 lt by the end of July. Minister Khudian assured that the concerns of farmers, millers, and commission agents (arhtiyas) will be addressed promptly. Any matters requiring the attention of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be escalated through proper channels to ensure seamless operations.
The state government remains committed to ensuring adequate storage and efficient procurement processes to handle one of the largest expected paddy harvests in recent years.