Union Minister Bittu Announces Commission Rate Hike for Arhtiyas and Societies
Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, Ravneet Singh Bittu, has officially declared that the Department of Food and Public Distribution has increased the commission rates for arhtiyas and societies handling paddy and wheat. This adjustment will take effect from the Rabi marketing season 2026-27 onwards, addressing a long-standing demand from stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Committee Recommendations Drive the Increase
The hike was approved following the recommendations of a committee specifically established to review the commission rates for arhtiyas and societies. In a letter dated Thursday to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who oversees consumer affairs, food and public distribution, and new and renewable energy, Bittu detailed the decision. He emphasized that the department acted based on the committee's findings, formalizing the increase through a letter on March 16, 2026.
Specific Rate Enhancements for Punjab and Haryana
In response to Joshi's inquiry about wheat procurement in Punjab for the Rabi marketing season 2026-27, Bittu provided specific figures. For wheat, the commission rates for arhtiyas in Punjab and Haryana have been raised from Rs 46 per quintal to Rs 50.75 per quintal. Similarly, for paddy, the rates have increased from Rs 45.88 per quintal to Rs 50.61 per quintal, effective from the Kharif marketing season 2026-27. Additionally, commission rates for societies have been enhanced from Rs 27 per quintal to Rs 29.79 per quintal for wheat and from Rs 32 per quintal to Rs 35.30 per quintal for paddy.
Enhanced Monitoring and Infrastructure Support
Bittu highlighted that the Department of Food and Public Distribution is actively reviewing and monitoring the preparedness of state government agencies in consultation with state governments. To streamline operations, nodal officers from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have been designated to work closely with state government officers in the field. A Procurement Centre Self-Assessment Portal (PCSAP) has been implemented for wheat procurement centers to evaluate infrastructure and facilities, ensuring convenience for farmers.
Packaging Material and Procurement Logistics
The department has assisted states in arranging packaging materials for the upcoming wheat procurement during the Rabi marketing season 2026-27. Punjab has been allocated 4.88 lakh bales, with each bale containing 500 bags, and 4.76 lakh jute or HDPE bags have already been made available. To address potential shortages, the department has approved the procurement of used jute and HDPE bags through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), ensuring sufficient packing materials to meet procurement targets without operational constraints.
Foodgrain Movement and Advance Planning
During the peak wheat procurement and dispatch period from April to June, FCI moved significant quantities of foodgrains from Punjab: 58.31 LMT in 2023-24, 48.31 LMT in 2024-25, and 46.11 LMT in 2025-26. Annually, total foodgrain movement from the Punjab region stood at 162.77 LMT in 2023-24, 177.32 LMT in 2024-25, and 154.79 LMT in 2025-26, with March 2026 figures being tentative. Bittu added that the department, in coordination with FCI and state governments, has undertaken advance planning for the Rabi marketing season 2026-27. This includes pre-positioning rakes, optimizing rail movement plans, and clearing storage capacity at consuming-state depots to ensure smooth procurement operations without bottlenecks.
