Chandigarh, Sept. 10 -- The Punjab government's decision to advance the paddy procurement season by two weeks - from the original date of October 1 to September 16 - has hit a serious hurdle, as floods and incessant rainfall have delayed harvesting across large parts of the state.

The state cabinet had approved the early procurement schedule on Monday, authorising the opening of 1,872 mandis (grain markets) to facilitate the process. However, officials from the food and civil supplies department have expressed concerns, stating that field-level conditions are not conducive for the smooth rollout of procurement in many areas.

In June, chief minister Bhagwant Mann had announced plans to advance procurement, citing widespread sowing of sho...