Excess moisture in paddy hits procurement in Sangrur district

With paddy arrival gaining pace and lifting of procured crop remaining slow, the situation has started worsening in the grain markets especially on account of excess moisture in the paddy. Inspectors of government agencies are not ready to procure paddy beyond the prescribed limit of 17% moisture.

There is a glut-like situation in the grain markets with heaps of paddy all around. The yards of the grain market here have now a little space to accommodate more paddy. If the situation persists for some more days, farmers will have to face problems in selling their produce in a smooth manner.

Due to excess moisture in paddy, farmers have been spreading their produce at the yards for drying. This has aggravated the problem of space in the grain market.

An arhtiya said dry paddy or grains having moisture content not more than 17% was being purchased by government agencies without any hesitation.

Avtar Singh Ealwal, Chairman, Sangrur Market Committee, told The Tribune today that it was a common knowledge that the government agencies could only procure paddy with up to 17% moisture. Despite this, they were sometimes pressured by farmers to purchase paddy having excess moisture. He said he had issued a verbal warning to the arhtiyas to not fill paddy in bags until auction took place. Licences of those found doing so would be suspended.

It is a matter of worry for farmers as well as arhtiyas of grain markets and purchase centres of Sangrur district that 81.36% of paddy procured by the government agencies was lying in the grain markets and purchase centres of the Sangrur district till October 21 evening.

According to information, 99,193 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy had arrived in the district grain markets and purchase centres till October 21. However, 86,229 MT of paddy was procured till last evening by the agencies. Due to non-lifting, 70,157 MT of procured paddy was lying (in bags) in the grain markets of the district till last evening.

Babbu Singla and Pardeep Singla, commission agents at the Sangrur Grain Market, said it was expected that in view of the changing weather, paddy crop to be brought to the grain markets after two-three days would have excess moisture content, may be up to 19%. In such circumstances, farmers would suffer in a big way as inspectors would not procure their produce. This would lead to farmers spending nights in grain markets. They advised farmers to not bring paddy to the grain markets if it the moisture content was more than 17%.