Rain threatens Punjab’s 55 LMT unliftedwheat stockpile
In Punjab, over 55 LMT of wheat remains unlifted as the procurement season ends, raising fears of rain damage. Despite purchasing 121.48 LMT by May 4, only 55% has been moved to storage. Farmers and commission agents are urging quicker lifting, citing poor infrastructure and unseasonal rains as serious threats to the grain and food security.
Bathinda: With the wheat procurement season drawing to a close, inclement weather continues to pose a serious threat to 55 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of Punjab’s unlifted harvested grain, exposing gaps in storage and procurement systems. As of Sunday, an estimated 1.34 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat remains unsold in grain markets across the state, while nearly 45% of the total procured stock is yet to be lifted — leaving it vulnerable to rain damage.
Official data suggests that 122.83 LMT of wheat had arrived in mandis (grain markets) across Punjab by May 4. Of this, 121.48 LMT was purchased by state agencies and private traders. On Sunday alone, 1.31 LMT arrived in the mandis, while purchases stood slightly higher at 1.45 LMT. State procurement agencies have bought 111.76 LMT of wheat, so far, while private traders have acquired 9.71 LMT. On Sunday, more
than 1.34 LMT was procured by govt bodies, with private entities purchasing just over 11,000 metric tonnes.
Despite the steady procurement, only 67.51 LMT — about 55% of the total purchases — has been lifted from mandis to storage facilities. The rate of lifting within the prescribed 72-hour period after procurement currently stands at 63%. On Sunday alone, 4.59 LMT of grain was moved. Both unsold and unlifted wheat stocks, estimated at over 55 LMT, are at heightened risk of moisture damage due to ongoing unseasonal rainfall. Farmers and arhtiyas (commission agents) have raised concerns over the slow pace of lifting, particularly in the absence of sufficient scientific storage infrastructure.
While weather challenges persist, procurement volumes this season have outpaced last year’s figures. As of May 4, purchases reached 121.48 LMT, slightly higher than the 119.29 LMT recorded by the same date in 2023. Stakeholders continue to call for urgent measures to accelerate lifting and protect grain stocks, warning that delays could result in large-scale losses for both farmers and the food security system.
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Source : The Times Of India
