Lok Sabha Question No. 4338 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Procurement of Grains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4338

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TII MARCH, 2026

## PROCUREMENT OF GRAINS

## 4338. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to  state:

- (a): whether the Government is aware that private traders are lifting  grains in Punjab at record levels during the current procurement season;
- (b): if  so, the details thereof  including  the total quantity  of rice purchased by private traders compared to Government  agencies;
- (c): the reasons for the increased procurement by private traders particularly in relation to higher purchase prices and delayed Government procurement and transportation issues;
- (d): whether incidents of traders buying grains from outside Punjab have been selling grains to procurement agencies in Punjab;
- (e): if  so, the details thereof including action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (f): the details of  steps being taken by the Government to address the challenge faced by farmers due to these developments and to ensure smooth procurement operations in the said State?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRiBUTION

(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a) to (c): The quantities of paddy procured by the State Government agencies at Minimum  Support Price (MSP) and those by private traders in Punjab during last 3 Kharif  Marketing  Seasons (KMS) are as under:

|         | Qty of Paddy procured by Government agencies- in LMT (% of total   | Qty of Paddy procured by private traders in LMT (% of total   | Total (in LMT)   |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|
| 2023-24 | 185.28LMT 99.7%                                                    | 0.60 LMT 093(yo                                               | 185.88 100%      |
| 2024-25 | 173.33 (99.8%                                                      | 0.40 0,2(!/o                                                  | 173.73 100%      |
| 2025-26 | 156.52 99.949/o                                                    | 0.17 0806(yo                                                  | 156.69% 100%     |

There is no increase in purchase of paddy by private parties in Punjab over previous years.

- (d) &  (e): As per the reports received from the district  offices regarding paddy being purchased at lower  rates from outside Punjab and brought into  Punjab for sale to procurement agencies, 6 cases of unauthorized paddy and 1 case of  unauthorized rice have come to the notice during KMS  202526

In order to prevent such incidents, the Department of Food &  Civil  Supplies, Govt of Punjab has set up checking barricades at all  Inter-State barriers to  check the bills  of  bogus purchase. The police force is provided by DGP Punjab to make these checking barriers more effective.

Besides, Punjab N[andi Board and the Department of  Food, Civil  Supplies &  Consumer Affairs,  Govt of Punjab have jointly  registered 7 FIRs against the involved persons and action has also been taken against four rice millers  and a commission agent (arhtiya).

- (f): The Grievances Redressal Committees under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners have been constituted comprising of representatives of concerned agency, Mandi  Board, Arthiyas, Rice millers and farmers in each mandi to address the problems of farmers and to ensure continuation of smooth procurement. In case a complaint regarding paddy procurement is received from farmers, it is resolved  by the committee on the sport.