Procurement halted for a day to speed up lifting in grain markets of Karnal

In a major step to streamline and expedite the lifting of already procured paddy stocks, the district authorities halted procurement operations on Sunday across all 15 grain markets in the district.

The authorities claimed the decision was aimed at clearing the backlog of procured grains, as the markets are facing a space crunch, making it difficult for farmers to unload fresh paddy.

“The procurement agencies have been directed to accelerate the lifting process. Halting procurement for a day will help in speeding up lifting and making space for further unloading of paddy by farmers,” said Yash Jaluka, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Karnal.

As of October 19, different procurement agencies have procured a total of 6,10,715 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy, of which 3,42,562 MT have been lifted, while the remaining stock is still lying in the grain markets. The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department procured the largest share at 4,10,521 MT, followed by HAFED at 1,21,789 MT, and the Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC) at 78,405 MT.

However, the pace of the lifting process has been slow. The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has only lifted 2,27,181 MT, HAFED 69,596 MT, and HSWC just 45,785 MT.

Compared to last year, paddy arrivals have also been slower. By this time last year, 763,253 MT had arrived, with the season’s total reaching 983,167 MT. This year, the slow pace of lifting has caused space shortages in the grain markets, leaving many farmers frustrated as they struggle to unload their produce. In some cases, farmers have been forced to leave paddy on roadsides due to overcrowded markets.

With grain markets overflowing, both farmers and commission agents have raised the issue with authorities, urging them to expedite the lifting process. Farmers, who have been arriving in large numbers, are particularly concerned about the delays.

“Slow lifting is a recurring issue every year, but the government does not seem to learn from it. The authorities should have taken steps to ensure smooth lifting, so farmers have enough space to unload their paddy,” said Rajesh Kumar, a local farmer.

Rajnish Choudhary, chairman of the Haryana Arthiyas Association, echoed these concerns, stating, “We have already brought this matter to the attention of district authorities and procurement agencies. Halting paddy procurement for a day might help in creating space for the farmers.” Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh assured that officials have been deployed at each grain market to ensure smooth procurement and lifting operations.