Food min visits grain market

Mohali: State food and civil supplies minister Lal Chand Kataruchak Monday inspected the ongoing wheat procurement in Kharar grain market. During his visit, he reviewed the lifting and purchase arrangements, interacted with farmers and labourers, and directed mandi officials to ensure that problems faced by farmers are promptly resolved.

Kataruchak also announced that central teams will soon visit mandis in Punjab to assess the impact of the recent rains on paddy. He instructed officers to closely monitor the dealings of arhtiyas (commission agents) to maintain transparency in transactions. The minister expressed satisfaction over the smooth conduct of procurement operations and lauded the coordinated efforts of procurement agencies, officials, and farmers despite the unseasonal rains. "Punjab's farmers have once again demonstrated resilience in the face of adverse weather. The govt stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them to ensure that their hard work is rewarded," he said.

He said Punjab has so far recorded the arrival of 18 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy, out of which 17 lakh MT was already procured. Payments worth Rs 3,215 crore were credited directly to farmers' accounts, ensuring timely disbursal.

The minister said the state govt has secured a Cash Credit Limit of Rs 27,000 crore for the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season, ensuring that procurement and payments continue without delay.