Wheat Procurement in Punjab Feared to be Impacted by Shortage of Gunny Bags

26-Mar-2026 05:45 PM

Ludhiana. In Punjab—the state contributing the highest volume of food grains to the Central Pool—the new wheat procurement marketing season is set to commence on April 1st; however, there are apprehensions that the process may face disruptions due to a severe shortage of gunny bags. Every year, Punjab contributes between 120 to 130 lakh tonnes of wheat to the Central Pool.

During the current year, the state is poised for a bumper wheat harvest, which is expected to result in a massive influx of grain into the various *mandis* (grain markets). Under these circumstances, if the shortage of gunny bags hinders the packing and lifting of wheat from the *mandis*, the producers could face severe hardships.

The *Arhtiya* (Commission Agents) Association of Punjab states that approximately 26 crore gunny bags are required for the government procurement of wheat in the state. Each bag has a packing capacity of 50 kilograms. These bags will be needed for the procurement and packing of roughly 130 lakh tonnes of wheat.

However, the total available stock of gunny bags falls short of this requirement by approximately 5 crore bags. While there may not be significant issues during the initial phase, the crisis is expected to escalate as the procurement season gains momentum.

The Central Government has already released funds amounting to approximately ₹33,000 crore to Punjab for wheat procurement, aiming to ensure timely payments to farmers.

A shortage of gunny bags could lead to delays in the procurement process. This could result in wheat piling up in the *mandis*, potentially plunging farmers into a financial crisis.