PROCUREMENT CRISIS

Not enough room in govt warehouses in Punjab to house fresh crop as the national granary is already loaded with the last season's produce due to late commencement of milling, created a logistic headache of gargantuan proportions

- HARFREET BMWA @Chandigarh

UNJAB is on the crest of a paddy procurement crisis—on a scale not witnessed in at least the last two decades. Consider 4 lakh metric tonnes of milled rice is expected in government godowns from the latest Kharif procurement that began September 1, but the space available to store them at present is inadequate.

Every harvest, the problem is to create adequate space for the safe storage of fresh produce by shifting the existing warehouses elsewhere. For example, last year's paddy is still in the state's warehouses as of June 30. That used to happen like clockwork every year, but inexplicably, this year is different.

Now, Punjab holds a staggering 114 lakh tonnes of paddy in its godowns. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently highlighted the delay in evacuating the old stock due to late milling during the last marketing season. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema blamed the Centre's step-motherly attitude toward Punjab and its procurement. The resulting political mudslinging between the AAP-led state government and the BJP is growing.

The delay in milling of the last season's produce was due to the standardization procedure (SOP) for delivering fortified rice to the owners, which was finalized only by December last year. The SOPs included quality parameters and tenders were then floated for paddy milling starting in January this year. By May, a space crunch hit hard, so the pace of milling slowed down. Rice millers were still clearing last season's stock in September.

While rice millers, commission agents, and farmers are blaming both the state and central governments for the complete mismanagement, the Centre claims it has already provided a month-wise plan allocating maximum rail rakes to Punjab for expedited evacuation of the existing fortified rice stock.