Punjab wheat procurement gains pace; Rs 1,818 crore released to farmers, says Minister Kataruchak
Daljeet Kaur
Sangrur (Punjab), April 20, 2026: Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Tuesday reviewed ongoing wheat procurement operations at Sangrur’s Dana Mandi, asserting that farmers across the state will face no inconvenience during the procurement season.
Accompanied by Sangrur MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj, the minister said the government is ensuring that every grain brought to mandis is promptly lifted and payments are credited to farmers within the stipulated timeframe. He reiterated that the state government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to a smooth and efficient procurement process.
Sharing state-wide figures, Kataruchak said that as of April 19, over 38.72 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of wheat had arrived in mandis across Punjab, out of which 34.16 lakh MT has already been procured by government agencies. Traders accounted for a smaller share of 6,163 MT. Payments worth ₹1,818.31 crore have been directly transferred into farmers’ bank accounts.
Focusing on Sangrur district, the minister said around 9.5 lakh MT wheat arrival is expected across 170 mandis. So far, over 4 lakh MT has arrived, with 3.52 lakh MT already procured. Payments amounting to ₹351.81 crore have been made to farmers in the district, while lifting operations are also progressing steadily.
Kataruchak further highlighted that Punjab has been assigned a procurement target of 122 lakh metric tonnes for the current season. Interacting with farmers and arhtiyas, he said that long-standing issues such as shortage of bardana, delayed lifting, and payment delays seen in previous regimes have been effectively resolved over the past four years.
He added that the state has successfully managed nine procurement seasons during this period, reinforcing Punjab’s position as the country’s “food bowl” with the capacity to handle large-scale procurement efficiently.
Farmers and arhtiyas present at the mandi described the current procurement process as transparent and hassle-free, noting timely lifting of produce and prompt payments. They also appreciated the state government’s pro-farmer approach.