‘Under-weighing 2 to 3 kg less per quintal’: Punjab farmers complain manipulation of paddy produce

When a farmer brings his/her crop to a mandi, it is first dried up in front of the power fan, then kept in the bags, and later weighed before stitching the bags. It is then transported to the mills where it is stored till milling. All the government-procured paddy in Punjab is stored in the 5,000-odd rice mills first and after milling, the rice is supplied to the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

According to various farmers and mandi sources, some commission agents are asking the farmers associated with them to bring their produce to the private yards instead of going to the government mandis.

Farmers alleged that at such yards the kandas (weighing scales) are already tampered by the agents, showing 2 to 3 kilograms less per quintal of paddy than the actual weight. Weighing machines in such private establishments are often without adequate government supervision.

By falsely recording reduced weight, these agents allegedly pocket the difference. In monetary terms, this manipulation can cause farmers to lose thousands of rupees per trolley of paddy.

Farmers, already struggling with lower yields this season due to unseasonal rains and pest damage, said the alleged under-weighing is an additional blow. Many report that their harvests are 5 to 10 quintals per acre less this year compared to normal yields.

“After working day and night in the fields, it is heartbreaking to see our crops getting undervalued. When 2 to 3 kilograms per quintal are cut at the weighing stage, we lose money unfairly,” Gurdial Singh, a farmer from Bathinda district, said.

Others, like Surjit Singh from Fazilka, allege that certain arhtiyas impose additional cuts in the name of wastage or moisture, even when the crop meets the required standards.

Farmers have also claimed that weighing scales are tampered with even at some procurement centres. They have urged the Food and Supplies Department to take exemplary action against those found guilty of cheating farmers.

In a separate but related issue, farmer organisations have also alleged that some commission agents are buying cheap paddy from neighboring states such as Rajasthan and selling it in Punjab mandis under the names of local farmers. Such farmers are reportedly conniving with these trader-cum-arhtiyas to claim the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

If proven true, such actions would constitute serious violations of procurement norms, defrauding both the government and genuine farmers, according to the Mandi Board officials, adding that it will also give false data about the total production of paddy in Punjab.

Arhtiya association responds

Vijay Kalra, president of the Federation of Arhtiya Association of Punjab, stated that such incidents have surfaced in some government-authorised private yards, which were originally allowed during the COVID-19 period.

“Only a handful of black sheep in our profession — those who are merely licence holders but not genuine arhtiyas— are indulging in these corrupt practices,” Kalra said. “But their actions tarnish the reputation of the entire community. Every farmer in Punjab is associated with an arhtiya, and if this trust is broken, the mandi system will lose its credibility forever.”

Kalra appealed to all commission agents to maintain honesty and transparency in their dealings, emphasising that unethical behavior not only damages farmer relations but also harms business in the long run. He also urged the farmers to come to government mandis with their crops.

While most commission agents continue to operate honestly, industry leaders and farmer groups agree that even a few instances of corruption can severely damage trust in the traditional mandi system, another Arhtiya said, adding that it makes no difference in government-approved mandis as well as in private silos, which are strongly opposed by Punjab farmers.

“The bond between farmers and arhtiyas is decades old,” Kalra reiterated. “Protecting this relationship through honesty and fairness is in everyone’s interest.”

As Punjab’s paddy procurement progresses, farmers hope that greater vigilance, digital monitoring, and strict action against offenders will restore faith in a system that has long been the backbone of the state’s agricultural economy, a senior officer in the Mandi Board said.