Paddy Procurement Woes: Punjab Congress Chief Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum for Action

Paddy Procurement Woes: Punjab Congress Chief Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum for Action

Patiala/Chandigarh, October 18, 2023 – Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the head of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), embarked on a comprehensive tour of Village Mandis in Patiala district. His visit included Rohti Basta of Patiala rural and Nabha Anaaj Mandi, aimed at engaging with farmers and grasping the grim reality surrounding the prolonged paddy procurement crisis. The farming community expressed their discontent, citing the deterioration of their paddy crop due to the ongoing rice millers’ strike.

“The resilient farmers of Punjab have endured substantial hardships, from recent floods to the ongoing adversities,” stated the PPCC Chief, underscoring the plight of the farming community. The farmers conveyed their grievances, highlighting the impact of floods, inclement weather, and the protracted strike by rice millers, causing their produce to rot in mandis.

Assessing the ground situation, Raja Warring commented, “Despite claims by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government that paddy procurement is progressing smoothly, the stark reality paints a different picture. Paddy crops languish in mandis, in stark contrast to official reports.”

The ongoing strike by rice millers, who are protesting against Food Corporation of India (FCI) guidelines, has led to an alarming 66% of paddy stocks remaining uncollected statewide. As of October 15, a meager 7.83 lakh tonnes of paddy have been procured. With the impending peak in production within a week, the shortage of storage space in mandis for paddy is expected to worsen.

Addressing the media, Raja Warring urged the state government to act swiftly. He proposed a temporary government procurement and storage solution until the protests conclude, enabling the smooth harvesting process once normalcy returns.

Concluding his statement, the PPCC Chief issued a stern ultimatum to the state government, calling for a prompt resolution. “We give a 48-hour deadline to relieve the farmers from this plight. Failure to collect the paddy within 48 hours will lead to widespread protests in mandis throughout the state, persisting until procurement is expedited. It is time to prioritize the welfare of our farmers over unrelated matters,” emphasized Warring.

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