Punjab's Grain Storage Crisis Threatens Rice Delivery and Wheat Harvest
Bathinda: A severe grain storage crisis in Punjab is posing a significant threat to both the rice delivery schedule and the upcoming wheat harvest. Rice millers across the state are struggling to find adequate storage space, leading to delays in custom milling of rice and subsequent supply to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the national pool.
Critical Delays in Rice Milling Operations
With the rice delivery deadline ending on March 31, only 25% of milling has been completed in the over 5,000 mills in Punjab as of the first week of February. Rice millers are urgently looking towards the FCI to move grains by deploying special trains to alleviate the congestion. Confronted by the lack of storage space, they are proceeding slowly with milling operations, exacerbating the delay.
Punjab's nearly 180 lakh metric tonne grain storage capacity, which includes godowns, cover and plinth (CAP) storage, and silos, is completely full with grains from previous seasons. Some stocks from as far back as the 2023–24 season still occupy valuable warehouse space, preventing the accommodation of new harvests.
Warnings of an Impending Crisis
"Going by the full storage capacity and slow movement to other states, Punjab is heading towards serious storage issues," said Akhil Bharatiya Rice Sheller Sangh president Prem Goel. "After March-end, when temperatures start soaring, the yield starts decreasing. The central and state governments must intervene to avoid a crisis-like situation in March–April."
Millers from the Malwa region reported being forced to hold quantities of paddy for extended periods due to the storage bottleneck. "There is no clear roadmap for lifting rice for the 2025–26 season. Unless old stocks are evacuated on priority, managing fresh wheat arrivals will be extremely difficult," they emphasized.
Chain Reaction on Storage and Procurement
An FCI official highlighted the broader impact, stating, "Any delay creates a chain reaction on storage, milling, and fresh procurement. The storage space could prove adequate if movement is smooth through the year." Officials from the food and civil supplies department have raised the issue of slow movement to other states with the central government, seeking urgent solutions.
Punjab procured 156 lakh tonne paddy, with 105 lakh tonne rice (67% of which is delivered after custom milling of paddy) to be delivered by millers. After the March 31 deadline, wheat arrivals normally commence from mid-April, with Punjab expecting to procure 130 lakh tonne wheat. In total, 240–250 lakh tonne foodgrain (wheat and rice) is procured in Punjab annually, though this may fluctuate based on yield and procurement during the kharif and rabi marketing seasons.
The storage crisis threatens to disrupt this cycle, potentially leading to significant losses and supply chain disruptions if not addressed promptly. Stakeholders are calling for coordinated efforts between state and central authorities to expedite grain movement and clear storage space before the wheat harvest begins.
