A record number of 95.38 per cent of total registered farmers sold paddy in Chhattisgarh in the Kharif marketing year 2020-21.

Of the 21,52,475 farmers, 20,53,483 farmers sold their paddy this year, the highest in two decades, an official communication said on Saturday.

The number of farmers selling paddy on minimum support price  (MSP), the total registered acreage, area of paddy sold, percentage of farmers selling paddy and the total quantity of paddy sold has risen significantly under this government.

Chhattisgarh has created a new record of purchasing more than 92 lakh tonnes of paddy in 2020-21. Compared to last six years, the percentage of farmers selling rice in 2020-21 is 95.38 per cent, the highest since the state was formed.

In 2015-16, 11,05,556   farmers out of 13,17,583         registered farmers sold their paddy, which is 83.9 per cent of the total registered farmers. This rose in 2016-17 to 91.5 per cent, dropped next year to 76.4 per cent, shot up in 2018-19 to 92.6 per cent and in 2019-20 to 94.02 per cent.

Despite the adverse circumstances in the state, the government made adequate arrangements for the purchase of paddy. Payments to farmers were continuous. Besides custom milling, lifting of paddy in the collection centers is continuing.

Due to the farmer-friendly policies of the government, the area of registration of paddy cultivation has reached over 27 lakh hectares and the number of registered farmers has reached 21,52,000, the statement said.