JALANDHAR
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Thursday said that the Punjab government was committed to smooth procurement of paddy and timely payments to the farmers in the ongoing Kharif marketing season.
Taking stock of the procurement in the Kartarpur grain market, the Minister said that 61 lakh MT paddy had arrived in grain markets of Punjab of which food procurement agencies had so far purchased 60 lakh MT and cleared the payments of over Rs 10000 crores to the farmers of their produce. He said that elaborate arrangements were made in 1854 to purchase centers well in advance. He said that 182 lakh MT paddy was expected to be procured this year.
The cabinet minister said that directions were already given to ensure farmers do not face any issues in selling their produce and receiving the payments. 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. He also appealed to the farmers to bring dried crops into the grain markets. He also talked with commission agents, farmers, and labourers in the market.
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.