The state government will write a letter requesting the central government to give the amount of Rs 6400 crore as loan against the rice deposited in the central pool.
20 quintals of paddy per acre will be purchased from farmers of the state.
Estimate of purchasing 125 to 130 lakh metric tons of paddy from farmers
Instructions to make all necessary arrangements including gunny bags for purchasing paddy
Raipur, 09 September 2023
Under the chairmanship of Food Minister Shri Amarjeet Bhagat, the meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee formed to review the policy of paddy procurement and custom milling for the upcoming Kharif marketing year and give suggestions was concluded. Agriculture Minister Shri Tamradhwaj Sahu participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
In the meeting, as per the announcement of Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel, it was decided to purchase paddy from registered farmers in Chhattisgarh at the rate of 20 quintals per acre in the upcoming Kharif marketing year 2023-2024. Like last year, this year also paddy procurement will start from November 01, 2023 under the bank linking system and will continue till January 31, 2024. Similarly, maize procurement will also start from November 1, 2023 and will continue till February 28, 2024. It is noteworthy that the state government has set an estimated target of purchasing 125 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers this year.
It was informed in the meeting that procurement will be done at the support price fixed by the Central Government for average good quality (FAQ) paddy and maize. Paddy will be purchased at the fixed support price of Rs 2183 per quintal for common paddy and Rs 2203 per quintal for grade-A paddy. Similarly, maize will be purchased at the rate of Rs 2090 per quintal.
In the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, rice is deposited in Food Corporation of India and Civil Supplies Corporation under centralized and decentralized schemes as agencies of the Central Government under the State’s indebtedness to the Central Government. As of today, a total amount of Rs 6400.30 crore is outstanding from the Central Government, including Rs 2205.30 crore from the Food Corporation of India and Rs 4195 crore from the Civil Supplies Corporation against the deposited rice. In which it has been decided to give grace for the amount of debt by writing a letter.
In the meeting, in accordance with the instructions given by the Food Department, Government of India, it has been decided to implement biometric based paddy procurement system in Chhattisgarh state in the upcoming Kharif year 2023-24. Till now, the work of registration of about 5 lakh farmers of the state has been completed. Instructions have been given to give wide publicity to give information to farmers regarding biometric paddy procurement system. Banners and posters are being put up at the committee level. Apart from this, instructions have been given to hold meetings of organizations related to agriculture and cooperation and give information about farmer registration.
In the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, keeping in mind the convenience of farmers in selling paddy in the state, the number of procurement centers is being continuously increased. Keeping in mind the demand of farmers, some more paddy procurement centers will be opened this year. At present 2617 paddy procurement centers are operating. Last year, 24.96 lakh farmers of the state had registered, whose area is 32.15 lakh.
Due to the farmer-friendly policies and decisions of the state government, last year about 2.5 lakh new farmers were registered and a record 107.53 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was purchased from the farmers. The number of farmers is likely to increase this year also. In view of the estimated target of purchasing 125 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers by the state government, gunny bags and procurement arrangements are being made. Last year, adequate arrangements for gunny bags were made for purchasing paddy. Also, paddy was successfully purchased due to online and offline token system. This year also, according to the estimated target of paddy procurement, about seven and a half lakh bales of jute gunny will be required. This will require 4.03 lakh new and 3.43 lakh bales of old gunny bags. Preparations are already being made by the Food Department for the arrangement of gunny bags.
During the discussion in the meeting, officials said that all necessary preparations are being made to strengthen the paddy procurement system in cooperative societies for the estimated paddy procurement. In this, everything from registration of farmers to arrangement of gunny bags, necessary facilities for farmers in procurement centres, arrangement for payment etc. is being maintained.
In the meeting, Secretary of Food Department Mr. Topeshwar Verma, Managing Director Markfed Mr. Manoj Kumar Soni, Managing Director Apex Bank Mr. K.N. Kande, Joint Secretary of Agriculture Department, Shri K.C. Paikra and other senior officials of the concerned department were present.
