Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Wednesday, 1 October formally launched the state's kharif paddy procurement season at the Batala grain market in Gurdaspur district, setting the government's sights on procuring 180 lakh metric tons of paddy at a minimum support price of ₹2,461 per quintal. The inauguration, which also saw Kataruchak personally initiate purchases from farmer Gurpreet Singh of Dulat village and farmer Prabhjot Kaur, marks the tenth consecutive season of government-led procurement under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration.

Centre Clears ₹42,786 Crore Credit Line for Punjab

A significant financial boost preceded the season's launch. The Centre approved a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of ₹42,786.68 crore for October, providing the state with the liquidity needed to settle payments to farmers without delays. Kataruchak said the CCL approval would ensure immediate and smooth payment to farmers for every quintal procured by government agencies. This kind of upfront credit line is critical in a high-volume procurement state like Punjab, where payment backlogs in past seasons have been a recurring point of farmer grievance.

Infrastructure and Logistics in Place

According to the minister, 1,887 marking yards have already been notified across the state, with more to be made operational based on ground-level demand. The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has also secured the requisite gunny bags for packing the incoming produce. Drinking water arrangements for labourers engaged in unloading and packing operations have been put in place at mandis statewide, officials confirmed.

What Kataruchak Told Farmers and Arhtiyas

After the inauguration, Kataruchak met with commission agents (arhtiyas) and farmers at the Batala mandi, assuring both groups that they would not face difficulties during the procurement window. He also appealed to farmers to bring dried, moisture-free produce to the mandis to avoid rejection or delays at procurement points — a practical advisory that procurement agencies issue every season to minimise disputes over grain quality.

Context: Punjab's Role in National Food Security

Punjab consistently ranks among India's top contributors to the central pool of foodgrains. A target of 180 lakh metric tons of paddy underlines the state's outsized role in national food security operations managed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's government has emphasised that every grain of the farmers' crop will be procured — a commitment that carries political weight in a state where agrarian sentiment drives electoral outcomes. Kataruchak held a follow-up meeting with procurement agencies on Wednesday, issuing operational directions to ensure the season proceeds without disruption.