Punjab's Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25 has recorded a robust start with a total of 90.69 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy arriving in mandis as of November 2, 2024. Out of this, 85.41 LMT has already been procured by State agencies and the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
The procurement, initiated on October 1, is aimed at ensuring fair compensation to farmers, with the Central Government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) set at Rs 2,320 per quintal for Grade 'A' paddy. This marks a significant financial inflow to Punjab's farming community, totaling Rs 19,800 crore to benefit approximately 4 lakh farmers across the state.
To facilitate smooth procurement operations, Punjab has set up 2,927 mandis and temporary collection yards. The state has also responded to the demand from millers, with 4,640 millers applying for paddy shelling permissions. As of November, 4,132 millers have been allotted work by the Punjab government, advancing the paddy milling process for KMS 2024-25.
The Central Government has set a procurement target of 185 LMT for Punjab for the entire KMS 2024-25 season, which will continue through November 30. Though the season initially faced delays due to heavy rainfall and high moisture levels in September, procurement has since picked up momentum, underscoring the state’s resilience and readiness in handling seasonal challenges.
