Govt sets target to purchase 105 lakh MT paddy

Central Chronicle News
Raipur, Oct 26: Under the chairmanship of Food Minister Amarjit Bhagat, a meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to buy paddy at support price from farmers of the state in the upcoming Kharif Marketing Year 2021-22 was held at his residence office, Sarguja Kutir Mathpuraina Raipur. In the meeting, the preparations for the purchase of paddy were discussed in detail. Under the farmer-friendly policies of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the cabinet sub-committee, a target has been set to purchase about 105 lakh metric tonnes of paddy.
It was also decided in the sub-committee that farmers should not face any problem in selling paddy in support price, keeping in mind that farmers would be allowed to sell paddy in their own gunny bags from the very first day of paddy purchase. In the meeting of the cabinet sub-committee, the officials told that the 100% execution of paddy purchased by the state government in support price from the committees has been completed last year. All necessary preparations are being made to purchase paddy and maize from the farmers in the upcoming Kharif marketing year. Officials said that this year more than 2.5 lakh additional farmers have got registered for the sale of paddy as compared to last year. The area under cultivation has increased by about 48,000 hectares as compared to last year. According to these facts, there is a possibility of selling 105 to 107 lakh metric tonnes of paddy by the farmers in the societies. For this, other necessary preparations including gunny arrangements are being made. Apart from the gunny bags received by the Central Government through the Jute Commissioner, arrangements are also being made for the gunny bags from PDS Rice Millers. Apart from this, the tender process is going on for HDP bags and additional gunny bags. The Central Government has given consent to take 61.65 metric tonnes of Arva rice this year. Last year, more than 16 lakh metric tonnes of Usna rice was given to the central pool by the state government. In the event of the Central Government refusing to buy that rice this year, a request has been sent to him by the Food Minister. It is noteworthy that in the Kharif marketing year 2021-22, normal paddy will be purchased from farmers at the support price of Rs 1940 and Grade-A paddy at Rs 1960 per quintal. Also, maize will be purchased at the rate of Rs 1870 per quintal. Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Ravindra Choubey, School Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam and Apex Bank Chairman, Baijnath Chandrakar along with Food Department Secretary, Topeshwar Verma, Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, in the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, Secretary, Department of Cooperatives, Mr. Himshikhar Gupta, Special Secretary Manoj Soni, Mrs. Kiran Kaushal, Managing Director, Markfed, Mr. Niranjan Das, Managing Director, Mr. KN Tande, Apex Bank and other concerned senior officers were present.