Paddy Procurement Crisis Sparks Statewide Protests

Panjab is currently facing a paddy procurement crisis as only 4.3% of the procured paddy has been lifted from mandis (grain markets), leading to overcrowding. The issue stems from rice millers’ reluctance to accept fresh produce of rice variety PR-126 and other hybrid varieties due to concerns over a lower than expected out-turn ratio (post-milling yield), which could compel them to buy rice from the open market at their own expense. INC’s Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa criticized CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and the AAP govt. for aggressively promoting PR-126, alleging it led to the crisis and heightened farmers’ distress. In response, CM Mann accused Bajwa of misleading the public with ‘half-baked knowledge,’ asserting that PR-126 saves 20-25% water compared to longer-duration varieties like Pusa 44, and saves farmers about $60 per acre in input costs. Meanwhile, in a rare show of unity, commission agents and rice millers joined the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to protest against the tardy paddy procurement, reminiscent of the 2020-21 Farmers’ Protest. The three major stakeholders — farmers, arhtiyas (commission agents), and rice millers — coordinated a statewide chakka jam (protest) on 13 Oct from noon to 3 pm, disrupting traffic and trains, highlighting their grievances. SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said the agitation aims to save Panjab’s agrarian economy.