The North News
Chandigarh, November 6
More than 10 lakh farmers in Punjab have benefited from the Minimum Support Price (MSP) during the ongoing paddy procurement season, according to official data released by the state government on Thursday. The government said that 10,11,149 farmers have so far received payments under MSP till November 5, reflecting the state’s smooth procurement operations this year. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s government has adopted what it described as a “proactive approach” to ensure seamless procurement, lifting, and payments across the state.
Under the supervision of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, all processes related to paddy collection and transportation are reportedly running “in full swing.”
Among districts, Patiala continues to lead, with 95,021 farmers receiving MSP payments so far.
Government data shows that 13,869,759.05 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy have arrived in state mandis till November 5. Of this, 13,597,879.27 MT have already been procured — accounting for 98% of total arrivals. Meanwhile, 11,729,851.90 MT have been lifted, reaching 86% of the procured crop.
Officials say that the procurement operations are expected to conclude smoothly, with payments being transferred directly to farmers’ accounts under Punjab’s ongoing digitised payment system.
