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Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Saturday that the Centre has agreed to lift 18 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of rice from the state by September 20, clearing critical storage space ahead of the upcoming kharif marketing season 2026-27. Mann secured the commitment during a meeting with Union food minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi to address severe storage constraints across Punjab.Underlining the urgent need to free up capacity for the upcoming harvest, Mann said, “I sought immediate movement of 18 LMT of rice from Punjab. It is imperative that all balance rice of kharif marketing season 2025-26 can be delivered in the Central pool.” He noted that state procurement agencies have already delivered 86 LMT of rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) despite persistent space shortages, including 11.70 LMT under the Centre’s Improved Rice Scheme.Mann informed the Union minister that Punjab expects another bumper harvest of 180 LMT of paddy this year. To prepare for the intake, he also urged the Centre to evacuate 27 LMT of wheat currently stored in rice mills and mandi yards to consumer states.Ranjit Singh Jossan, vice-president of the Punjab Rice Millers Association, welcomed the announcement, saying, “Movement 18 LMT rice from the state will provide much-needed relief to Punjab’s rice milling industry and significantly ease the prevailing storage crisis.”

Source : indiatimes