- Estimate of purchasing 160 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in the upcoming Kharif marketing year
- Paddy will be purchased from farmers at the rate of 21 quintals per acre
- Emphasis on the use of electronic weighing machines for transparent and seamless paddy procurement
- Proposal will be sent to the maize procurement center through NAFED and NCCF agency
- Decision to purchase gunny bags through Jute Commissioner and Gem
A meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to review and give suggestions on the policy of paddy procurement and custom milling at the support price in the upcoming Kharif marketing year 2024-25 was held today at Mahanadi Bhawan under the chairmanship of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Dayal Baghel. Members of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, Forest and Climate Change and Cooperation Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, Health and Family Welfare and 20 Point Implementation Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Shri Tank Ram Verma attended the meeting.
In the meeting chaired by Food Minister Shri Dayal Das Baghel, it has been estimated to buy 160 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in the current Kharif marketing year. Keeping in mind the festival of Diwali and State Formation Day Rajyotsav this year, a discussion was also held regarding starting paddy purchase from November 15. But the final decision in this regard will be taken in the meeting of the State Council of Ministers only. Along with this, it has been decided to buy paddy from the registered farmers of the state at the rate of 21 quintals per acre through electronic weighing machine on the support price. All procurement centers have also been asked to make arrangements for electronic weighing machines.
In the meeting, there was a detailed discussion on strengthening all the necessary facilities for buying paddy from the farmers of the state easily. In the meeting, it has been decided to buy gunny bags through Jute Commissioner and Gem so that paddy purchase is well organized and gunny bags are easily available to the farmers.
In the meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding paddy lifting and custom milling, depositing rice in Central Pool and Chhattisgarh Civil Supplies Corporation and transportation. After the discussion, it was decided that like last year, this year also paddy will be lifted along with paddy purchase. It has been decided to compulsorily lift paddy by 31st March.
It is worth noting that last year a record 144.92 lakh metric tons of paddy was purchased at the support price in Chhattisgarh. At present, it is estimated that 160 lakh metric tons of paddy will be purchased in the coming Kharif marketing year through 2058 cooperative societies and 2739 paddy procurement centers in the state.
For smooth running of the paddy procurement system, along with computers and internet, arrangements for sitting room and drinking water for the farmers coming to the procurement centres have also been asked to be ensured.
Additional Chief Secretary Mrs. Richa Sharma, Agriculture Production Commissioner Mrs. Renu G. Pillai, Finance Secretary Mr. Mukesh Bansal, Revenue Secretary Mr. Avinash Champawat, Industry Secretary Mr. Rajat Kumar, Managing Director of Markfed Mr. Ramesh Sharma and Managing Director of Food Civil Supplies Corporation, Managing Director of Mandi Board Mr. Mahendra Savnani and other senior officers concerned were present in the meeting.