The center offers a monthly plan with the highest rakes in Punjab for faster grain evacuation

The procurement season began on 1 October 2024, with the Center working to balance existing storage constraints with the arrival of fresh harvests. File | Photo credit: PTI

The Center on Wednesday (October 23, 2024) said it has provided a monthly plan allocating maximum railway rakes to Punjab for expedited evacuation of existing rice stocks as the state faces to storage limitations affecting the purchase of fresh rice.

Punjab, which currently has 130 lakh tonnes of rice, is facing logistical hurdles as it aims to procure 124 lakh tonnes in the current season. Officials report that 32 lakh tonnes of paddy has been purchased since October 1, 2024.

“Top priority has been given to Punjab and Haryana for stock evacuation,” Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi told reporters, addressing concerns over delays in procurement.

He emphasized that a detailed strategy for the creation of spaces has been shared with the State Government.

“We have given a detailed plan to the Punjab government on creating space. … Maximum number of rakes have been provided…” he added.

The minister reiterated the Centre’s commitment to procure 185 lakh tonnes of paddy, equivalent to 124 lakh tonnes of paddy, from Punjab during the current marketing season.

“The Government of India has made it very clear to them (Punjab) without any ambiguity that we will buy the committed amount on time,” Joshi said, adding that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had shown satisfied with central government guarantees.

The procurement season began on October 1, 2024, with the Center working to balance existing storage constraints with the arrival of fresh harvests.