Sangrur, July 21 -- The Punjab government has advanced paddy procurement, moving the commencement date from October 1 to September 15, announced chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday.

Speaking in his home constituency of Dhuri, Mann stated that the decision was taken to curb "blackmailing" related to moisture content.

"For early start of procurement by the state government, we have written to the Centre's minister of food and PDS to make early arrangements," said minister for food and civil supplies Lal Chand Kataruchak. The Centre has a role in arranging cash credit limit (CCL) for purchase of crop and gunny bales for storage.

Farmers, however, argue the move is "totally impractical", given the actual harvest schedule and unaddressed...