Panjab Procures 10.3M MT Wheat Despite Inclement Weather

By 3 May, Panjab’s government agencies procured 10.3M metric tonnes (MT) of the 11.7M  MT wheat that arrived in grain markets while private traders lifted 928K MT, pushing total purchases toward the 2006 record and paying farmers USD 28.7 per quintal. Payments of USD 2.1B have reached 628K growers at 2,885 centers. However, heavy rains recorded at 1,500% above normal between 1–2 May, soaked 169K MT still unsold and slowed grain lifting to 5.8M MT, leaving more than 6M MT exposed. Farmers in Ferozepur and Fazilka reported damage and asked for compensation as wind speeds hit 91 km/h. At the same time, Panjab also faced 1,052 wheat‑stubble fires between 1 Apr and 3 May, up 50% year on year, led by Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala. Punjab Pollution Control Board urged in‑situ residue management and behavioural change. Seeking risk cover after repeated weather losses and fires, Panjab’s govt. will request inclusion in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme; PMFBY), ending a nine‑year refusal. A draft state agriculture policy is promised by June. Maharashtra scrapped its INR 1 crop insurance after bogus claims soared from 11,731 in 2022 to 380K in 2023. Farmers now pay the standard PMFBY rates of 2% for summer crops and 1.5% to 5% for other seasons. Meanwhile, Haryana continues to outpace Panjab on reforms: indebted farm households fell to 48% versus Panjab’s 54.4%, average debt is USD 2,160 against USD 2,410, and the state that pays USD 83 per acre to shift from paddy, has spent USD 395M since 2018 on stubble‑management machinery guarantees MSP on all crops and offers village‑wide voluntary crop insurance. Experts say Panjab must diversify from its 86.8% rice and 97.9% wheat reliance and adopt Haryana‑style incentives, mechanization and direct payments to curb rising debt projected at USD 41 billion by March 2025 (earlier coverage).