Paddy buying begins at Raisen mandi after Diwali break; Pusa Basmati fetches up to Rs 5,100 a quintal

Paddy buying began on Wednesday at the Raisen Krishi Upaj Mandi after a five-day Diwali holiday. The season opened with a muhurat ceremony. On the first day, farmers brought their produce in more than 300 trolleys.

Traders at the mandi performed puja and welcomed farmers with garlands. Prasad and laddus were then distributed, after which the auction began.

In the auction held at Dussehra Maidan, Pusa Basmati paddy fetched a top price of Rs 5,100 per quintal. The lowest price was Rs 4,800 per quintal. Farmers were seen to be in good spirits at the prices.

Mandi trader Kesaram Sahu said buying was started on Wednesday with a muhurat after the five-day Diwali holiday. According to him, most of the paddy is currently coming from the Halali Dam area, where water has been available. In areas that faced a water shortage, harvesting has only now begun. Arrivals from nearby local areas will come somewhat later.

Traders say rain has cut paddy production by around 40 per cent this year. With lower output, farmers are getting good prices. Rice mills need large quantities of paddy this year as every year, but the lower production could affect their purchases.

Arrivals at the mandi are expected to rise in the coming days as harvesting is completed in local areas.