Six primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) in Palamu are facing a probe over the procurement of paddy. There are in all 38 PACS in the dictrict. Sources said six PACS had procured 5605.39 quintal paddy. This procurement of paddy is worth Rs76,23,330. The farmers who sold their surplus paddy to these six PACS are waiting to get their procurement price. 

Sources further said these PACS had procured paddy on their own as the State Government had not given any fund to them this year for the procurement.

The State Government is smelling rat in the procurement of paddy by six PACS. Managing director (MD) of JSFC (Jharkhand State Food Corp oration) has asked the DC Palamu to conduct a probe into the dealing of these PACS. District co-operative officer Palamu Ram Kumar Prasad has confirmed that six PACS had procured paddy from the farmers without any fund available with it.

Prasad further said the MD JSFC wanted to be sure if there was real procurement of paddy or not. Asked about farmers whose paddy were procured remained unpaid by PAC,S Prasad wondered as to how they did raise a liability of Rs76,23,330.

The procurement of paddy was done at Rs1,360 per quintal from the farmers.  Sources said JSFC’s worry was if at all the paddy has been procured or just a big claim of it has been made by these six PACS.

The market price of paddy stood around Rs960 per quintal.  Sources said it was a profitable chance for the farmers to sell their paddy to PACS as the market price was down by more than Rs400 in comparison to procurement price fixed at Rs1,360 per quintal.