Paddy Procurement for Central Pool Declines in Punjab

22-Aug-2025 04:34 PM

New Delhi. Although the central government has denied the allegation of delaying the procurement process of wheat and paddy in Punjab, it has definitely admitted that there has been a decline in the purchase of paddy for the central pool in the state for the last three years.

The purchase of wheat has been satisfactory. It is noteworthy that Punjab is the state that contributes the most food grains (wheat and rice) to the central pool. 

According to the Union Minister of State for Food, government procurement of wheat in Punjab starts from April 1 and paddy from October 1. According to official figures,

government procurement of wheat in Punjab increased from 96.45 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 season to 121.12 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 and 124.57 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 season.

On the other hand, government procurement of paddy reached a peak level of 186.11 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 season, which fell to 185.28 lakh tonnes in the 2023-24 season and got stuck at 173.33 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 season. 

The Food Ministry has clarified that the level of procurement of wheat and paddy is determined on the basis of production data.

The procurement process is also affected by how much stock comes to the mandis and what kind of change has taken place in the production.

The central government ensures the procurement of paddy and wheat in maximum quantity for buffer stock. Firm arrangements are made for its procurement, packing and transportation.

The lifting of food grains from the procurement centers also happens at a fast pace. The entire quantity of goods brought by the farmer in the state mandis is procured.

But farmers cannot be forced to sell their stock at government procurement centres because they are free to sell their produce anywhere.

The government's job is to buy the entire quantity of grain coming to procurement centres, which is happening in the right manner.