07 February 2022. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the Chhattisgarh government has set a new record this year, breaking its previous year’s record by purchasing 97 lakh 97 thousand 122 metric tonnes of paddy at support price from farmers in the state. Last year 92 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was procured in the state. This year, the grand campaign for procurement of paddy, which started from December 1, 2021, was successfully completed today on February 7. This year 21,77,283 farmers have sold their paddy on support price, which is 1,23,683 more than the number of 20,53,600 farmers who sold paddy last year. In spite of gunny crisis and unseasonal rains in the month of January, completion of procurement of paddy from farmers in the state without any interruption is a remarkable achievement in itself.
Officers and representatives of farmer organizations have expressed happiness over the smooth completion of paddy procurement in the state. The farmers have also thanked the Chief Minister for extending the stipulated period of purchase of paddy from 31 January to 7 February by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to give opportunity to the farmers who could not sell paddy due to unseasonal rains. Officials and representatives of farmers’ organizations say that farmer-friendly Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has given all possible help to the farmers of the state. Taking care of the interests of the farmers. He said that despite not providing gunny bags as per the demand of the state from the central government for the purchase of paddy, the Chief Minister and the Chhattisgarh government also made arrangements for adequate gunny bags at the local level by the state government and to ensure a well-planned arrangement for the purchase of paddy in the centres. Thanks to.
It is worth mentioning that due to the farmer friendly policies of the Chhattisgarh government, there has been a significant increase in the number and production of paddy producing farmers in the state in the last three years. Due to which the record of buying paddy on support price is being broken year after year. This year a new record has been set for purchasing 97.97 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. 92 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was procured in the year 2021, 83.94 lakh metric tonnes in the year 2020 and 80.37 lakh metric tonnes in 2019. This year, a total of 24,06,560 farmers had registered for selling paddy in the Kharif marketing year 2021-22, the area of paddy sown by them is 30 lakh 10 thousand 880 hectares. Whereas the area of paddy registered last year was 27 lakh 92 thousand 827 hectares. If only one year’s figure is compared, then the number of farmers registered for selling paddy has increased by about 1.25 lakh and the area under registered paddy has increased by 2 lakh 18 thousand.
It is worth mentioning that Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana is being operated by the Chhattisgarh government to promote crop productivity and crop diversification along with giving reasonable price to the farmers for their crops. Due to this, a new enthusiasm has arisen among the farmers towards farming in the state. People who have turned away from agriculture have also started returning to farming again. Due to which the number of farmers, area under cultivation and crop productivity are increasing continuously in the state. The figures of paddy procurement on support price year after year are proof of this.
Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the state did not face any problem due to procurement of paddy on support price, prompt payment to the farmers and arrangements for lifting and custom milling of the purchased paddy. For the convenience of the farmers, the number of paddy procurement centers was also increased from 2311 to 2484. This made it easier for farmers to sell paddy. Due to paucity of gunny bags for paddy purchase in the state, farmers were given the facility to bring paddy in their gunny bags from the very first day of paddy procurement. The price of gunny bags of farmers was also increased from Rs 18 to Rs 25. The farmers extended their cooperation in the matter of providing gunny bags for the purchase of paddy. Paddy procurement continued smoothly by arranging old gunny bags from millers and PDS shops. This year, 19 thousand 83 crore 97 lakhs have been paid to them in lieu of paddy purchased from farmers.
Rajnandgaon district has been a leader in the state in procurement of paddy on support price. In 149 procurement centers of Rajnandgaon district, maximum 8 lakh 25 thousand 127 metric tonnes of paddy has been procured till February 7, the last date of paddy purchase. Janjgir-Champa district has been on the second rank, here 8 lakh 24 thousand 552 metric tonnes of paddy has been procured. Mahasamund district has been ranked third by purchasing 7 lakh 74 thousand 136 metric tonnes of paddy.
According to the information received from the Food Department, Bastar district has 1,58,915 MT, Bijapur 63,703 MT, Dantewada 17,437 MT, Kanker 3,18,793 MT, Kondagaon 1,53,322 MT, Narayanpur 22,794 MT, 46,291 MT in Sukma, 4,84,119 MT in Bilaspur, 69,356 MT in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, 1,70,237 MT in Korba, 3,83,622 MT in Mungeli, 5,72,898 MT in Raigarh, Balod district In this, 5,19,469 metric tonnes of paddy has been procured.
Similarly, 6,30,616 MT in Bemetara district, 4,17,097 MT in Durg, 4,16,281 MT in Kawardha, 6,96,431, MT in Balodabazar, 4,31,397 MT in Dhamtari, 3,31,512 MT in Gariaband. Tons, 5,09,931 MT in Raipur, 1,93,867 MT in Balrampur, 1,54,181 MT in Jashpur, 1,40,093 MT in Korea, 2,19,967 MT in Surguja and 2,50,976 MT in Surajpur district Paddy has been bought.
Food Secretary Shri Topeshwar Verma informed that the work of lifting and custom milling of paddy purchased on support price is going on at a fast pace. So far 64.43 lakh metric tonnes of paddy has been lifted. By custom milling, 9.47 lakh metric tonnes of rice has been deposited in Food Corporation of India and 7.66 lakh metric tonnes in Civil Supplies Corporation.
