Delayed paddy lifting lowers crop moisture in the standing paddy crop, which could potentially lead to lower yield. It also raises concerns about farm fires.

Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba 

As wheat sowing begins in Punjab, the state is facing hurdles with paddy harvesting and lifting. So far, 96.19 lakh tonnes of paddy have arrived at mandis, a drop from last year’s 117.03 lakh tonnes recorded by this date. Out of the current arrivals, 90.83 lakh tonnes have been procured.

Approximately 50% of the harvesting has been completed, though delays in lifting crops from mandis initially slowed the process.

Paddy lifting has improved from last week’s 15% to 38%, but remains lower than last year’s 75% by this time. This delay is largely due to rice millers starting the lifting process later than usual as their demands from the government have yet to be met.

There is no issue with purchasing; the government is buying all the paddy arriving in mandis, with 95% of total arrivals already purchased. Farmers are also receiving timely payments in their accounts.

Currently, rice millers are storing the government-procured paddy in their mills for milling purposes, but they are accepting limited quantities. Unlike previous years, millers may not be able to store the entire stock, potentially impacting future procurement.

As paddy harvesting delays continue, the crop’s moisture content is dropping, which affects yield. While ideal moisture levels at harvest are around 21-22%, they fall to 17% by the time the paddy reaches mandis—the prescribed limit for procurement. However, current moisture levels are dropping as low as 14-15% in standing crops, which could lead to yield loss for farmers since lower moisture means lighter grains.

“My standing crop’s moisture is already down to 14%, below the specified 17%, and I now expect to lose 1-2 quintals per acre,” said farmer Tejinderpal Singh from Jalandhar, whose crop is partially harvested.

Ujagar Singh, a farmer from Bathinda with unharvested fields, echoed this, reporting moisture levels even below 14%.

A senior official from the Punjab Agriculture Department noted that while there is no issue in procurement, delays in harvesting reduce the time window for managing stubble, likely leading to increased field fires as farmers prepare for the wheat sowing season by mid-November.

Already, Punjab’s average air quality index (AQI) has reached 269, falling under the “poor” category as of November 2, shortly after Diwali. AQI levels in cities like Amritsar and Ludhiana reached “very poor” levels at 368 and 339, respectively. Jalandhar, Patiala, and Mandi Gobindgarh saw AQIs of 264, 253, and 203.

With about 50% of the paddy crop still to be harvested and brought to mandis in the coming weeks, concerns grow over potential bottlenecks as mandis brace for a larger influx.

Published Date: November 4, 2024