Centre to Lift 18 LMT Old Grain Stock from Punjab Ahead of Paddy Season

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the Centre has agreed to lift 18 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of old grain stock from the state by September 20, a move expected to create crucial storage space ahead of the upcoming paddy procurement season.

Mann said the assurance was received during his meetings with Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, where he raised concerns over the shortage of storage capacity in Punjab.

The chief minister said the state government has intensified preparations to ensure smooth paddy procurement and timely payments to farmers, asserting that no farmer would face difficulties in selling their produce. Punjab is expected to record another bumper harvest, with procurement projected at around 180 LMT of paddy during the forthcoming Kharif season.

Mann said Punjab is likely to contribute around 170 LMT of good-quality rice, making adequate storage and timely movement of stocks essential for both farmers and the country's food security.

According to the state government, Punjab's State Procurement Agencies have already delivered 86 LMT of rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) despite persistent space constraints. Mann said the immediate creation of 18 LMT of additional space would allow the pending rice from Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025-26 to be delivered to the Central Pool.

He added that Punjab has also contributed significantly to the Centre's Improved Rice Scheme, delivering more than 11.70 LMT of Improved Rice to FCI.

Mann further urged the Centre to arrange the immediate movement of 27 LMT of wheat currently stored at rice mills and mandi yards in Punjab to consuming states under welfare schemes.

He said shifting the wheat would help optimise storage capacity and ensure sufficient space for incoming paddy during KMS 2026-27. The state government, he added, is working to ensure a seamless procurement process for farmers in the upcoming season.