Raipur, 31 January 2022 . As a result of vision and determination of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, Chhattisgarh has set a new record of paddy procurement. Nearly 94.57 lakh metric tons of paddy has been procured in the state in the current season of paddy procurement at support price. In the last season of 2020-21, 92.803 lakh metric tons of paddy was procured in the same duration, and 20.54 lakh farmers had sold paddy. This year, more than 94.57 lakh metric tons of paddy has been procured from 21.38 lakh farmers. So far, Rs 17,906.33 crore has been released to farmers under bank linking system in lieu of the paddy procurement.
Keeping in view the demand and requirement of the farmers, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has decided to extend the last date of paddy by one more week, for the convenience of the farmers. Now paddy will be procured from the registered farmers till February 7. State government has set the target to procure 105 lakh metric tons of paddy from more than 24 lakh farmers this year. As per the instructions of Chief Minister, the lifting of paddy for custom milling is also in progress at an expedited pace, alongside of paddy procurement. So far, 54.99 lakh metric tons of paddy has been lifted by the millers through DOs and TOs. Chhattisgarh State has set a new record in term of depositing rice in the Central Pool. Till date, 14.46 lakh metric tons of quality rice has been deposited in the central pool. These include 8.03 lakh metric tons of rice deposited in Food Corporation of India and 6.42 lakh metric tons of rice deposited with Civil Supplies Corporation.
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, Food Minister Mr. Amarjeet Bhagat, Chief Secretary Mr. Amitabh Jain has congratulated the officials of Food Department, Marketing Association, Civil Supplies Corporation, FCI, Railway officials for this remarkable achievement in terms of paddy procurement on support price as well as lifting and custom milling of paddy in the state. Chief Minister has given the credit of this achievement to the coordination and team work of the officers of the concerned departments.
Food Secretary
Mr. Topeshwar Verma informed today that on the initiative of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, procurement of paddy on support price, lifting of the procured paddy and custom milling is being conducted simultaneously. Nearly 54.99 lakh metric tons of paddy has been lifted through DO and TO, which is a record in itself. Mr. Verma informed that DO of 46 lakh 61 thousand metric tons of paddy has been issued. The millers have lifted 41 lakh 05 thousand metric paddy from the procurement centers. Similarly, TO has been issued for transportation of 19 lakh 56 thousand metric tons of paddy. against which 13 lakh 94 thousand metric tons of paddy has been lifted from the committees.
Food Secretary, Mr. Verma said that on the call of Chief Minister Mr. Baghel, millers have set a new record in the matter of custom milling and depositing rice in the central pool. So far, 14.46 lakh metric tonnes of rice has been deposited in the central pool. It is worth mentioning here that procurement of paddy from farmers on support price has started in Chhattisgarh from 1st December 2021. Besides paddy procurement, the lifting of paddy from the procurement centers and custom milling is also going on on a war footing. More than 24 lakh farmers have registered for selling paddy this year. The registered paddy area is also more than 30 lakh 15 thousand hectares. Secretary, Food Department, Mr. Verma informed that Chhattisgarh has to deposit 61.65 lakh metric tons of Arva rice in the central pool this year. To meet this target,the work of lifting and custom milling of procured paddy is being done expeditiously.
