Peak Season may extend to end of October

Chandigarh
In the various mandis across the State, despite the boycott by the Commission agents (arthiyas) for the past four days, the paddy procurement has been going on, informed a spokesperson from the department of Food and Civil Supplies Punjab.

Facilitating smooth procurement, the elected representatives are personally supervising the procurement process in their respective constituencies said he adding that 22508 MT paddy has been procured till October 4 as against 28446 MT last year on same date.

Attributing the slow arrival in the mandis to the prolonged rainy season, the spokesperson said that it is anticipated that the arrivals will gain momentum after October 10 with major arrival of crop at grain markets in the second week of this month.

Making an appeal to the farmers to harvest their crop only after proper maturity since certain varieties are still in the last stage of maturing, he said that it will be difficult for the farmers to control moisture content if they harvest the crop in its unripe state. They should bring moisture-free yield to grain markets to sell it at the earliest, said he and added that the peak season may stretch to the end of October.

Appreciating the decision of the arthiyas to call off strike, the spokesperson said that the department will extend all possible support for the smooth functioning of the new Public Financial Management System (PFMS) mandated by the Centre government.