Raipur, July 28, 2023: According to the announcement of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, paddy will be procured from registered farmers in Chhattisgarh at the rate of 20 quintals per acre in the upcoming Kharif marketing year 2023-2024. It may be noted that the state government has set an estimated target of procuring 125 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers in the coming Kharif marketing year.
It is worth mentioning that in the meeting of the cabinet sub-committee, in the coming Kharif marketing year 2023-24, a detailed discussion was held regarding determination of policy related to procurement of paddy and maize, farmer registration, gunny bags and financial arrangements on the support price.
Officials of the Food Department told that like in the previous years, paddy is to be procured from the farmers of the state in large quantities this year. That’s why emphasis is being laid on strengthening the cooperatives. Keeping in view the convenience of farmers in selling paddy in the state, the number of procurement centers has been increased to 2617. Last year, 24.96 lakh farmers of the state had got registered, whose area is 32.15. Due to the farmer-friendly policies and decisions of the state government, last year about 2.5 lakh new farmers got registered and a record 107.53 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was procured from the farmers. There is a possibility of increase in the number of farmers this year also. In view of the estimated target of procurement of 125 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from the farmers by the state government, gunny bags and procurement arrangements are being improved. Last year, adequate arrangement of gunny bags was made for the purchase of paddy. Along with this, due to the online and offline token system, paddy was successfully procured. This year also, according to the estimated target of paddy procurement, about 7.5 lakh bales of jute gunny bags would be required. In this, 4.03 lakh new and 3.43 lakh bales of old gunny bags will be required. Preparations are already being made by the Food Department for the arrangement of gunny bags.
In the meeting, officials informed during the discussion that the area covered under paddy in this Kharif season in the state is estimated at 33.61 lakh hectare. According to the announcement by Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel in the marketing year 2023-24, 20 quintals of paddy per acre will be purchased from the farmers. All necessary preparations are being made to strengthen the paddy procurement system in the cooperative societies for the estimated paddy procurement. In this, maintenance work is being done from registration of farmers to arrangement of gunny bags, necessary facilities for farmers in procurement centres, arrangement for payment etc.
