Paddy Procurement at support price to commence from today

Raipur, Nov 30: As per the announcement of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, paddy procurement at support price will be commenced in the state for the Kharif marketing year 2021-22 from December 1. All the necessary preparations for paddy procurement in this season have been completed. In this Kharif year, paddy will be procured from about 22.66 lakh registered farmers through 2399 cooperative societies. Procurement of about 105 lakh metric tons of paddy is estimated this year. State government has given permission to open 88 new paddy procurement centers (PPCs) for the convenience of the villagers and farmers.
Officials of the Food Department informed that in kharif marketing year 2021-22, State Government would procure paddy from farmers at support price via cash and linking from December 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022, whereas procurement of corn would be done from December 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022. For Kharif Marketing Year 2021-22, support price for average good quality paddy (Paddy Common) has been fixed at Rs 1940 per quintal, support price for grade-A paddy at Rs 1960 and the support price for an average good quality maize has been fixed at Rs 1870 per quintal.
Officials informed that 5.15 lakh bales of gunny bags would be required to procure 105 lakh metric tons of paddy. Government of India has given consent to supply 2.14 lakh bales of new jute gunny bags to the state through the Jute Commissioner. But the state has received only 86 thousand jute gunny bags so far through the Jute Commissioner. Besides, about one lakh bales of gunny bags have been arranged by the state government through fair price shops and millers and about 1.13 lakh bales of HDPE-PP has been arranged from the open market. Moreover, an officer of Indian Administrative Service has been appointed as OSD for tare purchase, distribution, regular coordination with central and other officers. Also, the state government has given permission to the farmers to sell paddy in their own gunny bags from the very first day of paddy procurement.
Food Department officials further informed that nodal officers have been appointed for smooth and transparent operation of the paddy procurement system.
The process of paddy procurement and other related arrangements and problems will be monitored by these nodal officers on a daily basis. To ensure that paddy is procured only from the farmers of the state at procurement centers, the joint team of Police, Revenue and Food Department is strictly monitoring the sensitive areas at the borders of the state by putting up check-posts. The team is taking strict action against the ones found guilty of transporting paddy illegally.