Mr. Baghel has directed the officials concerned to ensure the lifting of paddy directly from the societies, assured that farmers need not to worry
So far, 78.92 lakh metric tons of paddy has been procured in the state
Chief Minister appreciates the progress in paddy lifting and custom milling works
Raipur, 22 January 2022 / Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has taken a major decision today in the interest of the farmers of the state. While reviewing the support price of paddy procurement in the state through video conference at his residence office today, Chief Minister announced an extension of one week in the stipulated period of paddy procurement in Chhattisgarh. Paddy procurement from farmers of the state will now be done till February 7. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Mr. Amarjeet Bhagat also attended the meeting through video conferencing. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Mr. Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Subrat Sahu, Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi, Food Secretary Mr. Topeshwar Verma, Co-operative Secretary Mr. Himshikhar Gupta, NAN MD Mr. Niranjan Das and other officials.
While reviewing the updated status of paddy procurement in the state, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel directed the officials concerned to make proper arrangements for the millers to lift the stock of paddy directly from the societies. This would not only save the transportation cost but will also expedite the custom milling work. Chief Minister has directed the officers concerned to ensure that 100% of the paddy procured is transports from the societies by the month of April and to expedite the custom milling work. Chief Minister has also directed to ensure timely payment to the farmers against paddy procurement. Chief Minister said that the deposit of 6 lakh metric tons of rice in FCI under current circumstances is an achievement. He has directed to ensure that rice is deposited in FCI continuously as per the target.
In the meeting, Food Secretary Mr. Topeshwar Verma informed that 78.92 lakh metric tons of paddy has been procured in the state as on January 21, which is 75 percent of this year’s target. He informed that 24 lakh 5 thousand farmers have registered for selling paddy this year and the registered area under paddy cultivation is 30 lakh 21 thousand hectare. This year the number of registered farmers has increased by 2 lakh 52 thousand and the area under cultivation has increased by 2 lakh 28 thousand hectare, which is 11.76 percent and 8.20 percent more respectively than last year. He said that so far about 19 lakh farmers have sold paddy worth Rs 15 thousand 335 crore on support price and have received 100% of the payment against the same. This year, 71 thousand bales of gunny bags were made available by the farmers for the purchase of paddy, for which a total amount of Rs 88.20 crore has been paid. He informed that 41 lakh metric tons of paddy has been transported from the cooperative societies so far. The state has sufficient quantity of gunny bags available for paddy procurement. Nearly 1.30 lakh bales of gunny bags will be required for procurement of paddy in the extended period, whereas 1.52 bales of gunny are available in the state for this.
