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Agriculture
Ludhiana Farmers Threaten Protest Over Stalled Paddy Purchases and Payment Delays
✍️ Amar Ujala · Ludhiana
🗓 10 Nov 2026, 07:15 PM
👁 12
Farmers in Ludhiana say the suspension of paddy procurement and delayed payments have left them in distress, and they have warned they will stage a protest from November 20.
Ludhiana, Punjab – A group of farmers in the city has raised concerns after the state‑run procurement agency halted the purchase of paddy and failed to release pending payments. The stoppage, which began earlier this month, has left many cultivators without the expected income from their harvests.
The delayed disbursements have compounded the financial strain on small and marginal farmers who rely on timely payments to meet loan obligations and household expenses. Local agricultural cooperatives reported that the backlog affects several thousand acres of paddy fields in and around Ludhiana.
In response, farmer representatives announced that they will organize a protest starting on 20 November if the procurement and payment issues are not resolved promptly. The warning underscores growing frustration among the farming community over what they describe as administrative inertia.
Authorities have not yet issued a formal statement, but the situation is being monitored as it could impact the upcoming sowing season and the broader supply chain for rice in the region.
The delayed disbursements have compounded the financial strain on small and marginal farmers who rely on timely payments to meet loan obligations and household expenses. Local agricultural cooperatives reported that the backlog affects several thousand acres of paddy fields in and around Ludhiana.
In response, farmer representatives announced that they will organize a protest starting on 20 November if the procurement and payment issues are not resolved promptly. The warning underscores growing frustration among the farming community over what they describe as administrative inertia.
Authorities have not yet issued a formal statement, but the situation is being monitored as it could impact the upcoming sowing season and the broader supply chain for rice in the region.