Karnal Mandi Farmers Face Crop Damage and Slow Lifting After Unseasonal Rain

Unseasonal rain over the past two days has damaged paddy kept out in the open in mandis across Haryana and Punjab, prompting farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni to visit the Jundla grain market in Karnal on Tuesday.

Mandi Issues

Chaduni raised concerns over slow lifting and wet crops, stating that the government is responsible for the produce once it reaches the mandi. Farmers complained about a delay in purchases and the absence of officials. Chaduni alleged that officials are cutting down prices by claiming there is 17 percent moisture in the paddy. Farmer groups have now decided to install awareness boards in mandis to stop this practice, and Chaduni urged farmers who already sold paddy at reduced rates to share written records so the organization can help get their money back. He also noted that 400 rice millers have not been assigned paddy yet, as 25 percent of their payment remains pending.

Protests And Official Stance

Addressing other issues, Chaduni supported district-level protests against the Special Intensive Revision and criticized the arrest of people before protests. Market committee secretary Naresh Maan stated that total arrivals reached 1.73 lakh quintals by Monday evening, out of which 40 percent of the paddy has already been lifted. He added that the Jundla mandi ranks second among all mandis in lifting work and that 13 rice mills have arrived, with five more expected by Wednesday.

Context

Grain markets often face logistical bottlenecks during peak harvest seasons when unseasonal weather damages open-air storage. Farmer unions frequently step in to address grievances regarding procurement delays and moisture-content measurements. Local market committees manage daily arrivals and coordinate with rice millers to clear the stock.