Paddy Procurement in Kangra to Begin October 3, Farmers Directed to Register Crops on Portal

The minimum support price (MSP) for paddy this season has been set at ₹2,389 per quintal by the central government.

Kangra, Himachal Pradesh’s largest district, will begin paddy procurement on October 3. Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa has instructed all relevant departments to ensure adequate storage facilities and smooth operations in grain markets before the season begins.

Bairwa urged farmers to register their crop details on the government’s “Sahi Fasal, Sahi Daam” portal, warning that those who fail to do so may face delays in receiving MSP payments.

He explained that the portal has been introduced to bring transparency to the procurement process and curb irregularities. “Our effort is to make mandis more farmer-friendly and to ensure timely payments,” he said. Instructions have also been issued to the Food and Civil Supplies Department, the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Agriculture Department, and the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) to expand platforms, build boundary walls to prevent stray cattle intrusion, and provide basic facilities such as toilets, electricity, CCTV surveillance, and security staff at procurement centers. Additional rented warehouses are also being arranged to prevent grain damage.

The directives come amid growing concerns from farmer groups and panchayat representatives over inadequate storage and infrastructure in mandis. This year’s procurement faces an added challenge, as prolonged rains and flooding have affected the quality of the crop, raising fears that FCI may reject a significant portion of the yield under its procurement standards.

Observers note that the state government’s handling of paddy procurement in Kangra carries major political weight. The district, which sends 15 MLAs to the state assembly, is a key agricultural hub and often sets the electoral tone in lower Himachal. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s wife, Kamlesh Thakur, represents the Dehra constituency in the district.

For the ruling Congress, ensuring a hassle-free procurement process is being seen as a test of credibility among rural voters—especially at a time when dissatisfaction over mandi facilities has been mounting. BJP leaders are also expected to closely monitor the process, with potential lapses likely to become a flashpoint in the run-up to panchayat and municipal elections.

Prolonged rains and flooding affect crop quality

This season, the procurement process faces an additional hurdle as extended rains and flooding have damaged crop quality, fueling concerns that much of the produce may not meet FCI’s standards.