Ludhiana, Sept. 23 -- A week after the paddy procurement season officially began across Punjab, Ludhiana district has yet to see the arrival of a single grain at its mandis, officials familiar with the matter said. They further attributed the slow trend of arrivals to the parmal rice variety, which is procured by the government, still standing tall in the fields.

Explaining the situation, Gurmatpal Gill, district mandi officer, said, "Presently, the mandis are witnessing only the arrival of Basmati rice, which is purchased round the year by private players at rates ranging from Rs.2,450 to Rs.3,550 per quintal. This is unrelated to the government's procurement season, he clarified.

He added that paddy arrivals in prominent mandis such a...