Eying 160 lakh metric tonnes (lMT) paddy, Punjab is all set to start paddy procurement from October 1. 

State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adaish Pratap Singh Kairon has directed all the heads of the state procurements agencies, especially the General Manager of Food Corporation of India (FCI), Punjab region, to personally supervise the procurement operations across the state beginning from October 1 so as to ensure prompt lifting of paddy as per their allotted share of procurement. 

Punjab was expecting to procure 160 lMT of paddy this year. Of the total paddy, PUNGRAIN would procure 24 percent, PUNSUP 23 percent, Markfed 23 percent, Agro 10 percent, FCI 12 percent, and Punjab State Warehousing Corporation eight percent in all the 1830 purchase centers set up across the state.

Kairon, reviewing the arrangements of the paddy procurement for Kharif Season 2016-17 in the state, said that all out efforts should be made to ensure smooth, hassle-free and quick procurement of paddy on one hand and facilitate the farmers in getting timely payment of their produce on the other.

He categorically said that farmers of the state should not be put to any inconvenience for the sale of their produce in the mandis.

“Good quality sturdy gunny bags with accurate weight would be ensured while packing the produce. The officers concerned have been especially asked to visit the mandis during the procurement and ensure smooth lifting. He said the field staff would work day and night to procure the stocks even on Saturdays and Sundays and also on government holidays,” said Kairon.

The Minister has also asked the officers concerned to ensure that there would be no shortage of gunny bags for storage of grains, while asking the Punjab Mandi Board officials to make sure of arrangements in mandis to save produce and to have proper sanitation facilities.

Centre has fixed MSP for paddy Rs 1510 per quintal for Grade A and Rs 1470 per quintal for common variety of Paddy.

Proposal regarding Cash Credit limit has been sent by Finance Department to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on for availing CCl limit of Rs 26,089.80 crore for the purchase of 132 lMT paddy by the state agencies. FCI will make its own arrangements for the funds required for purchase of paddy.

Kairon made a fervent appeal to all the farmers to bring dry clean and fully matured paddy to the mandis and at the same time, he has asked the district administration not to allow paddy harvesting during night time as the moisture in atmosphere is more at night than during the day time.