The single most effective way to cut bad debt in a mandi business is aging: track every udhaar by how old it is — 0–30, 31–60, 61–90 and 90+ days — per buyer, so overdue balances surface on their own and get chased before they sour.
Why does aging beat a running total?
A single "total owed" number hides risk. Aging buckets tell you that a buyer who owes you for 95 days is a very different problem from one at 20 days — and the 90+ bucket is where bad debt lives.
A simple recovery routine
- Send a friendly reminder the day a balance crosses 30 days.
- Escalate at 60; call personally at 90.
- Stop extending fresh udhaar to anyone sitting in your 90+ bucket.
This is far easier when reminders are one tap on WhatsApp and the buckets update themselves — see party ledgers with aging.
Should you give udhaar at all?
Yes — selectively. Credit to trusted buyers wins volume and a better daam. The danger is unmonitored udhaar; disciplined aging lets you extend confidently. Start with Pakka Khata for Adhatis.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as bad debt in a mandi?
Practically, anything sitting unpaid beyond 90 days with no payment plan is at high risk and should be flagged.
How do I keep farmers paid while buyers take udhaar?
That float is the adhati's reality — aging visibility lets you fund it safely instead of guessing.
