Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Punjab Sets Mandi-Wise Paddy Targets, Farmers Raise Concerns
Punjab has set a limit for how much paddy each mandi is expected to buy.
The limits are based on how much each mandi bought over the last three years.
The central government’s target for buying paddy in Punjab is 180 lakh tonnes.
Farmers and commission agents worry that this year’s crop may be larger than usual.
They fear some mandis could reach their assigned targets while farmers still have paddy to sell.
Officials say the crop is looking good and farmers expect strong yields.
One estimate suggests arrivals could reach about 192 lakh tonnes, more than the central target.
Farmers say buying plans should respond to the amount of paddy actually arriving.
Punjab has for the first time set paddy procurement targets for each mandi using its average procurement over the past three years.
The Centre’s procurement target for Punjab this season is 180 lakh tonnes.
Farmers and commission agents fear bumper arrivals could exceed targets at individual purchase centres.
Punjab has around 36.86 lakh hectares under paddy, including Basmati; non-Basmati area is estimated at more than 26 lakh hectares.
Officials estimate potential arrivals of about 192 lakh tonnes based on expected yields, while another calculation puts them above 186 lakh tonnes.
- Who
- Punjab’s Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department set the targets; farmers and commission agents have raised concerns.
- What
- Mandi-wise paddy procurement targets were assigned using each centre’s average procurement over the past three years.
- When
- For Punjab’s current paddy procurement season; harvesting has begun.
- Where
- Across purchase centres in Punjab’s 23 districts.
- Why
- The state directed district authorities to allocate centre-level targets following the Centre’s 180-lakh-tonne procurement target for Punjab.
Farmers and commission agents
Government planning rationale
Use of historical mandi targets
Farmers and commission agents
Farmers and commission agents say current arrivals may exceed targets based on three-year averages, and argue procurement arrangements should reflect actual arrivals.
Government planning rationale
The state has directed authorities to calculate mandi-level targets using each centre’s average procurement over the past three years; the article does not give an official explanation defending this method.
Responsibility to procure MSP-supported paddy
Farmers and commission agents
Association president Ravinder Singh Cheema says the government is responsible for procuring an MSP-supported crop once farmers bring it to a mandi.
Government planning rationale
The Centre has set an overall Punjab procurement target of 180 lakh tonnes, while state authorities have distributed targets among mandis and procurement agencies.
- Centre's Punjab procurement target
- 180 lakh tonnes
- Basis for mandi targets
- Each mandi’s average procurement over the preceding three years
- Coverage
- Purchase centres across Punjab’s 23 districts
- Sangrur mandi target
- 1,15,947 tonnes
- Kheri Mandi target
- 2,774 tonnes
- Estimated non-Basmati paddy area
- More than 26 lakh hectares
- Potential arrivals estimated by a Civil Supplies official
- Roughly 192 lakh tonnes, assuming average yields of around 30 quintals per acre
- Alternative arrivals estimate
- More than 186 lakh tonnes, based on historical yield data cited by an Agriculture Department official