Farmers, selling their paddy produce at the purchase centres set up by the State Government will get their payments within 3 days.

Talking to media persons here, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Saryu Roy said this while informing that several steps have been taken by the State Government to streamline the purchase of paddy produce from the farmers and the district administration all over the State has been directed to make it functional by December 1.

“The farmers will get their dues within three days of purchase of their produce at the purchase centres for which the responsibility has been fixed on District Cooperative Officer. This year more than 600 purchase centres are to be set up as against the 477 purchase centres last year,” said Roy. A meeting was held recently with the District Agriculture Officers, District Cooperative Officers and District Supply Officers and have been told to submit a list of purchase centres they were willing to set up in their districts, he added.

“All the districts have been directed to set up the required purchase centres  by December and start the purchase by December 1,” he said.   Food Corporation of India (FCI) will purchase the produce from farmers in Palamu Division, National Collateral Management Services ltd (NCMl) in South Chotanagpur and Kolhan Divisions while State Food Corporation (SFC) will do it in the rest of the Divisions in the State, he added.

“At least one counter in a block will be opened this time for the convenience of farmers and the public representatives, MlAs and MPs have been asked to be present on any of the purchase centres in their areas on December 1 and make suggestions to the State Government if any,” said Roy. It is a great challenge for the State Government as there were some lacunae last year and hence some corrections have been made this year, he added. 

“Regular monitoring of purchase centres will be done this year for which one officer has been appointed who will take daily reports that how much produce have been purchased and how much of them have been lifted from the godowns,” said the minister. An arrangement has been made to ensure daily lifting of paddy crops from the godowns so that space could be created for fresh stocks,” he added.