Punjab’s Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, formally kicked off the state’s wheat procurement season from the Rajpura Grain Market today.
To mark the beginning of procurement, Minister Lal Chand personally oversaw the sale of wheat brought in by farmer Harwinder Singh from Bhapal village and extended greetings to all farmers on behalf of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. He was joined by Rajpura MLA Neena Mittal, Secretary Rahul Tiwari, Director Varinder Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Preeti Yadav, and other senior officials.
Speaking to the media, Minister Lal Chand informed that Punjab has secured a cash credit limit of ₹28,894 crore from the Reserve Bank of India, ensuring seamless procurement of wheat at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,425 per quintal.
Minister Lal Chand highlighted the state government’s extensive preparations under CM Mann’s leadership, noting that 1,865 procurement mandis are fully operational, along with 600 additional temporary centers to manage surplus arrivals. Additionally, 5 lakh bales of gunny bags have been arranged for smooth operations.
Expecting a record harvest this season, he said that the Food Corporation of India has set a procurement target of 124 lakh metric tonnes for Punjab, which the state is well on track to achieve.
Reaffirming the government’s dedication to supporting farmers, he urged them to bring their produce to mandis promptly, assuring that every grain would be purchased without delays. He also stated that no farmer or labourer would face inconvenience, as all relevant departments are working in close coordination to ensure hassle-free procurement.
The event also saw the presence of ADC Navreet Kaur Sekhon, Punjab Aarthiya Association President Ravinder Singh Cheema, Patiala District Aarthiya Association President Jaswinder Singh Rana, Grain Market President Davinder Singh Vaidwan, and other key figures.