Rain on Jattvibeday morning laid bare infrastructural shortcomings at the Gill Road grain market near Arora Palace, leaving farmers scrambling to shield their harvested wheat produce from moisture damage.With inadequate shed facilities, tarpaulins became the only line of defence against the sudden showers.“The rain caught us off guard. We rushed to cover our produce, but tarpaulins are not a foolproof solution. Sheds are too few and some are misused,” lamented Deedar Singh of Dhandra village.Pritam Singh, another farmer, echoed similar concerns.“We have been demanding proper shed infrastructure for years. Today’s situation shows how urgent the need is. Lifting is going on, but grains awaiting their turn are left exposed. This is unacceptable,” he said.Market workers too admitted the struggle.“When it rains suddenly, we rush to cover the grains, but it is impossible to save everything in time. Water stagnation damages the produce, and signs of spoilage are already visible,” one worker said.Another farmer from a village near Samrala said the demand for proper infrastructure at the grain market has been pending for years.“Governments come and go, but our demand for proper infrastructure at the grain market lie unheard and unmet,” he said.Experts warned that even short exposure to moisture can trigger mold formation, discolouration and fungal growth, eroding both quality and market value.An official from the Mandi Board acknowledged the challenge, stating, “Harvesting is picking up pace and farmers must focus on proper storage. We are ensuring that sold produce is lifted, but the crop under progressive lifting must be stored properly to maintain optimal moisture content.”