Diplomat Correspondent
JAMMU: Paddy procurement in the Jammu region has achieved a record high amid the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025–26, reflecting the effectiveness of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism and the sustained efforts of the Agriculture Department.
Till date, a total of 4.47 lakh quintals of paddy has been procured, which is the highest ever recorded so far. The procurement operations for the current season will continue till December 31.
The current procurement has surpassed the earlier highest level recorded during KMS 2021–22, when 4.05 lakh quintals of paddy were procured and an amount of ₹79.03 crore was paid to farmers as MSP.
The performance during the ongoing season clearly indicates a strong upward trend in both procurement volume and farmer participation.
In comparison, during Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024–25, a total of 3.27 lakh quintals of paddy was procured, benefiting 4,897 farmers, with MSP disbursement amounting to ₹75.67 crore. During the ongoing KMS 2025–26, paddy procurement has registered a significant increase, reaching a record level of 4.47 lakh quintals till date, benefiting 6,130 farmers, with MSP amounting to ₹106.48 crore paid directly to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). This reflects a substantial improvement both in procurement volume and farmer outreach during the current season.
For the ongoing KMS 2025–26, 24 mandis are operational across the region, ensuring smooth and accessible procurement for paddy growers. The procurement has already crossed the set target of 3.50 lakh quintals, highlighting the success of coordinated efforts by all concerned agencies.
The MSP rates for the current season were fixed at ₹2,389 per quintal for Grade ‘A’ paddy and ₹2,369 per quintal for Common paddy, providing assured prices to farmers. On average, about ₹1.73 lakh per farmer has been transferred directly to beneficiaries bank accounts through DBT, ensuring transparency and timely payment.
In addition, farmer registration under the paddy procurement system has also reached an all-time high during the ongoing KMS 2025–26. Till date, a record number of 11,182 farmers have been registered, reflecting increased awareness, improved outreach by field functionaries, and growing trust of farmers in the MSP procurement mechanism.
Highlighting the achievement, Director Agriculture Jammu, Sh. Anil Gupta stated that the record-breaking procurement during KMS 2025–26 reflects the growing confidence of farmers in the MSP procurement system and the proactive measures taken by the Agriculture Department. He specifically appreciated the role of field functionaries, noting that they have performed commendably at the village and panchayat level by creating proper awareness among farmers regarding registration, procurement procedures, MSP benefits and mandi operations. The Director added that strengthened field-level outreach, enhanced mandi infrastructure and prompt DBT payments have ensured maximum farmer participation.DD