JALANDHAR
With 100% payments against the procured paddy, the Punjab Government has been ensuring a smooth and hassle-free procurement season.
As per the details available regarding the ongoing Kharif marketing season, the procurement agencies had procured 17070 metric tons (MT) of paddy out of 20162 MT paddy arrived in the grain markets/purchase centers this year till October 5.
The procurement agencies had made 100 percent of payments of procured paddy. The agencies had made payments worth Rs 16 crore to the peasantry and no payment was pending.
Mandi board officials reiterated that on the directions of the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the administration was firmly committed to completing the procurement season without any inconvenience to the farmers.
A robust mechanism had been put in place to make sure that grain was procured and lifted as soon as it had come into the grain markets/purchase centers and told that the officers/ officials had been directed to ensure daily field visits to inspect the ongoing procurement operations and facilitate the farmers.
It may be mentioned here that Jalandhar had expected the arrival of around 10.62 lakh-MT paddy in 81 grain markets /purchase centers this year.
Malkeet Singh, a farmer who has brought his produce to the Shahkot grain market, expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and said that his produce was instantly weighed and procured by the agency.
Another farmer Manjinder Singh of Raipur Araian village said that his paddy had been purchased on the same day as it was dry, for which he thanked the Punjab government.