Paddy arrival in markets slow as harvesting yet to pick up pace

With the arrival of 3,608 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy on Monday, 13,212 MT of the crop has reached mandis of the district. Though commission agents have ended their protest after assurances from the state government, due to slow harvesting of the paddy, the arrival of produce in grain markets is low.

Mandi officials said out of total 50 procurement centres in the district, the produce had arrived at only 10 mandis. Officials said the remaining procurement centres would become functional only with the arrival of paddy.

Government procurement agencies procured 3,935 MT of paddy on Monday. With this, the total procurement by government agencies has reached 9,062 MT. Of the total crop that had reached mandis so far, private buyers had purchased only 3,214 MT. Officials said 93 per cent of the produce, which arrived in mandis, was procured.

Meanwhile, harvesting of basmati varieties is going on full throttle. In all, 2.78 lakh MT of basmati has arrived in mandis since the start of the harvesting season. As basmati varieties are not covered for purchase under the MSP by government agencies, it is solely bought by private buyers.

District agriculture officials said parmal varieties of paddy would take at least one more week to ripen after which the arrival of produce would pick up pace in mandis. They said farmers had been advised to harvest their crop only when it is completely ripened or else they would face problems in selling it to government agencies on the MSP.