PHILLAUR
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Thursday said that the foremost priority was being accorded to seamless procurement of paddy and timely payments to the farmers in the ongoing Kharif marketing season.
Taking stock of the procurement in the Phillaur grain market, the Minister said that till October 4, two lakh MT paddy has arrived in grain markets of Punjab of which food procurement agencies have so far purchased 1.7 lakh MT and cleared the payments worth Rs 24 crores to the farmers of their produce. He said that elaborated arrangements were made in 1854 purchase centres well in advance. He said that 182 lakh MT paddy was expected to be procured in this year.
The cabinet minister said that officials need to remain present in purchasing centers to ensure farmers do not face any issue in selling their produce and receiving the payments. He also asked them to ensure regular dialogues with the farmers and commission agents to get feedback about the procurement exercise. Officials must make persistent efforts to provide maximum benefits to the farmers coming to the markets, said the Minister and asserted that the government would procure every grain of crops without causing any inconvenience to the peasantry.
Kataruchak said that an effective mechanism had been evolved by the department to closely monitor the procurement. In Jalandhar, the officials informed the Minister that the agencies had estimated to purchase 1062004-MT paddy in this season and smooth procurement is going on in 81 grain markets. Till October 4, around 10000-MT paddy has already been purchased and payment worth Rs 4 crore has also been cleared to the farmers in the district.