Thousands of quintals of paddy procured from farmers in Madhya Pradesh's Panna district have reportedly deteriorated after being left in the open instead of being moved to warehouses in time. Authorities have ordered an investigation following reports that paddy has begun sprouting due to prolonged exposure to rain and moisture.
The paddy, procured from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), was allegedly not transported to warehouses within the stipulated time. According to reports, extended exposure to open weather conditions resulted in rain and moisture damaging the stock. In several locations, sprouts have emerged from the stored paddy, raising questions over the government's storage arrangements.
Images that surfaced locally show large quantities of damaged paddy. Farmers and local residents said the losses could have been avoided if the procured grain had been shifted to secure warehouses in a timely manner.
Following the matter coming to light, the concerned authorities have directed an investigation. The inquiry will examine the reasons for the delay in transporting the paddy to warehouses and identify those responsible. It will also assess whether there was any negligence in the storage and transportation process.
Authorities said further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. The administration is currently gathering information related to the matter.
The incident has come to light while Madhya Pradesh Warehousing Corporation Chairman Sanjay Nagayach is inspecting warehouses across various districts. He has visited multiple storage centres in recent months to review warehousing arrangements.
The reported deterioration of a large quantity of paddy in his home district of Panna has raised questions over warehouse management and storage systems. Experts said timely secure storage and regular monitoring are essential to maintain the quality of agricultural produce.
The damaged paddy could also have an indirect impact on farmers alongside the government storage system. Although payment for procured produce is processed separately, deterioration of large quantities of grain results in losses to government resources and may also affect the public distribution system.
Attention is now focused on the investigation report, which is expected to determine the reasons behind the deterioration of the paddy and whether any action will be taken against the officials found responsible.
