To support local farmers, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday convened a meeting to review arrangements for the upcoming paddy procurement in the state. The meeting, which included officers from the Food and Civil Supplies Department and representatives from the Punjab Rice Millers Association, highlighted the State Government’s commitment to procuring every grain from farmers without any complications.
Chief Minister Mann emphasized that the Punjab Government has implemented comprehensive arrangements to facilitate the smooth purchase of the harvest as it arrives at the grain markets (mandis). “We have established a viable mechanism to ensure that farmers receive on-the-spot payments directly into their bank accounts,” he stated. He reassured farmers that the procurement process will be efficient and hassle-free, allowing them to sell their produce without facing any difficulties.
Highlighting the government’s responsibility, Mann declared, “We are duty-bound to ensure that every golden grain of the farmers is procured and lifted immediately.” The Chief Minister underscored the state’s readiness to assist farmers in getting timely payments, reaffirming that no inconvenience will be tolerated during the sale of their produce.
During the meeting, a delegation from the Punjab Rice Millers Association raised concerns regarding the procurement process. Mann assured them that the State Government would advocate for their interests at the national level. He took the initiative to contact Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Prahlad Joshi, seeking his intervention to resolve issues related to rice delivery space. Mann stressed the urgent need for the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to create adequate storage capacity to ensure a seamless procurement process for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25.
The Chief Minister expressed his frustration over the ongoing space crunch at FCI warehouses, which has impeded the delivery of rice from the previous KMS 2023-24 since May. He voiced concerns that the lack of storage could lead to apprehensions among local rice millers regarding the forthcoming Kharif season.
In a positive development for the state, the Union government has authorized a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) of Rs 41,339.81 crore (approximately five billion dollars) for the Punjab government to facilitate paddy procurement through the end of October 2024 for KMS 2024-25. This substantial financial support aims to strengthen the procurement infrastructure and assure farmers of timely transactions.
