- Farmers should not face any problem at any stage from token to paddy sale.Instructions issued to ensure all necessary arrangements including gunny bags, electronic weighing, electricity and water at paddy procurement centres.Emphasis on expediting custom milling and maintaining proper paddy lifting arrangements2.74 crore people in the state are getting food security through 83.33 lakh ration cards.Instructions to ensure adequate foodgrain storage in fair price shops and distribution as per eligibilityFood Minister conducts detailed review of departmental functioning and preparations for Kharif Marketing Year 2026-27
Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Minister Shri Dayal Das Baghel stated that the convenience of farmers during the upcoming paddy procurement campaign is the state government’s top priority. Farmers should face no problems at any stage, from registration and obtaining tokens to selling paddy at procurement centers. To this end, all necessary preparations should be completed in time. He directed officials to ensure all arrangements for farmers’ convenience, including gunny bags, electronic weighing systems, electricity, and drinking water, are in place at paddy procurement centers.
In a departmental review meeting chaired today by Food Minister Mr. Baghel, departmental plans and activities, including preparations for paddy procurement, custom milling, the public distribution system, food grain storage, and transportation for the upcoming Kharif marketing year 2026-27, were reviewed in detail. He instructed officials to ensure the entire paddy procurement process is systematic, transparent, and farmer-friendly. Before procurement begins, the availability of necessary resources and facilities at all centers should be assessed and deficiencies addressed.
Pay special attention to the convenience of farmers in paddy purchasing centers
Minister Mr. Baghel said that farmers arriving at procurement centers should not face unnecessary waiting or inconvenience. The token system should be kept running smoothly, and farmers should be provided with necessary information related to the process in a timely manner. Officials involved in paddy procurement should regularly review preparations at their respective levels and ensure immediate resolution of any problems.
While instructing to ensure adequate availability of gunny bags at procurement centers, he said that procurement should not be affected due to a shortage of gunny bags. Proper electronic weighing and metering systems should be ensured at new paddy procurement centers. Furthermore, electricity, drinking water, and other basic facilities should be available at all centers.
The Food Minister reviewed the status of custom milling and directed efforts to expedite it. He said that in areas or centers where problems related to paddy lifting or custom milling are occurring, the actual situation should be assessed and timely solutions should be found. Better coordination should be maintained between paddy procurement, lifting, and custom milling, so that the entire system can operate smoothly.
Food security reaching 2.74 crore people of the state
The meeting also reviewed the public distribution system in detail. Officials stated that a total of 83.33 lakh ration cards are currently in circulation in the state, with 274.04 lakh registered members. Based on the estimated 2025 population of 3.08 crore, the public distribution system coverage in the state is approximately 89 percent.
Minister Mr. Baghel said that the public distribution system is an important foundation for food security for needy families. Therefore, it should be ensured that food grains are delivered to fair price shops in a timely manner and that beneficiaries receive the prescribed amount of rations according to their eligibility. There should be no disruption in the availability or distribution of food grains at any level.
He directed that adequate quantities of food grains be stocked in advance at all fair price shops. The Food Minister also directed that the system of weighing and handing over the food grains to fair price shops by transporters transporting rice for the Public Distribution System (PDS) be effectively implemented. He urged that this system be regularly monitored to ensure that fair price shops receive the prescribed quantities of food grains and that eligible beneficiaries receive the full ration.
57.16 lakh ration cards under NFSA
According to departmental data, 5.716 million ration cards are in circulation in the state under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), with 19.816 million members linked to them. Similarly, 7.587 million members are registered on 2.617 million ration cards under the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act.
Category-wise, 15.80 lakh Antyodaya ration cards, 58.65 lakh priority ration cards, 8.43 lakh general ration cards, 0.28 lakh destitute ration cards, and 0.17 lakh disabled ration cards are in circulation in the state. Across all categories, a total of 83.33 lakh ration cards have been issued in the state, linking more than 2.74 crore people to the public distribution system.
Food Minister Mr. Baghel told officials that the benefits of food security schemes should reach every eligible family with complete transparency and ease. From paddy procurement to ration distribution, the department’s arrangements should focus on the convenience of farmers and the general public. He placed special emphasis on continuous monitoring at the field level and improved coordination among departmental officials.
Food Department Secretary Mrs. Reena Baba Saheb Kangale, Director Mrs. Farha Alam, Chhattisgarh State Warehouse Director Mr. Ashish Tikriha, Director Measurement and Weighing and other senior officers of the department were present in the meeting.