The Centre has agreed to lift 18 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of old grain stock from Punjab mandis by September 20, clearing space ahead of the paddy procurement season, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Saturday.Mann raised the issue during a meeting with Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi. He said additional storage was essential to handle Punjab’s expected bumper paddy crop. The state is projected to produce about 180 LMT of paddy this kharif season, with nearly 170 LMT of good-quality rice likely to be supplied to the central pool.Punjab’s state procurement agencies have already delivered 86 LMT of rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) despite limited storage. Mann urged the Centre to ensure immediate movement of another 18 LMT of rice so that pending deliveries from the kharif marketing season (KMS) 2025-26 can be completed. “Creation of 18 LMT space will ensure pending rice is delivered to the FCI at the earliest,” he said, adding that timely completion would also encourage rice millers ahead of procurement.The CM said preparations for the upcoming season were in full swing. He assured farmers that they would not face difficulties in selling their produce. He also requested the Centre to ensure timely payments to farmers.In another appeal, Mann asked the Centre to arrange lifting of 27 LMT of wheat lying in Punjab to various states under welfare schemes. He said this would optimise storage and create room for incoming paddy.