The District Level Monitoring Committee convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner  Ananya Mittal to strategize paddy procurement for the Kharif marketing season 2024-25. The meeting, held in the Collectorate Auditorium, was attended by key officials including Additional Deputy Commissioner  Bhagirath Prasad, District Supply Officer  Salman Zafar Khijri, District Cooperative Officer Mrs. Asha Toppo, District Agriculture Officer, and other stakeholders.

The committee discussed the state-mandated target of procuring 6 lakh quintals of paddy in the district. This year, farmers will receive a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹2,300 per quintal, with an additional ₹100 bonus, bringing the total procurement rate to ₹2,400 per quintal. A list of 42 LAMPS (Large Area Multi-Purpose Societies) as procurement centers and 20 rice millers has been finalized to facilitate the process.

Mittal emphasized that farmers should sell their paddy exclusively at designated LAMPS to ensure fair transactions and avoid exploitation by middlemen. He directed officials to motivate farmers to avail themselves of the government-supported pricing mechanism and ensure widespread awareness of the procurement scheme.

To streamline operations,  Mittal instructed the deputation of adequate personnel at all procurement centers and cooperative extension officers at the block level. Magistrates will also oversee activities at affiliated rice mills to prevent irregularities. Timely payments to farmers for the procured paddy were stressed as a top priority.

The maximum procurement limit is set at 200 quintals per farmer. However, farmers wishing to sell more can seek special approval from the District Magistrate cum Deputy Commissioner, subject to local investigation. Selected paddy procurement centers will be directly associated with the nearest rice mills to optimize logistics and processing.

Mittal reiterated the district administration’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and transparent procurement process. The meeting concluded with unanimous resolutions to meet the procurement target while safeguarding the interests of local farmers.