Haryana Government In A Fix: No Space To Store Paddy Produce

Remains of last year’s wheat and rice has packed Haryana’s warehouses and sheds. This becomes a pressing issue since the state begins the procurement of paddy from October. Lack of storage space might lead to several issues in the coming future.

Custom-milled rice will be delivered from October 15 and paddy has already started reaching the markets. The problem will be likely to remain at least for a month. According to The Tribune, it will take about six months before large quantities of food grains are moved out of the warehouses.

As of 31 August, 87.06 lakh MT of wheat that belongs to the Food Corporation of India has been stacked in warehouses across Haryana. Out of this, more than 23 lakh MT has been lying open on plinths.

The grain markets where the government bodies are required to conduct the procurement for paddy, bajra and other crops are covered with nearly 5 lakh MT of wheat. Items such as fertilisers, gunny sacks are being stocked in the warehouses.

Raj Kumar Beniwal, Chief Marketing Enforcement Officer in the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board has been quoted as saying, “The matter was taken up with the FCI and they have assured us that 5 lakh MT of wheat from markets will be shifted soon.”