Haryana Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Karan Dev Kamboj on Saturday made a surprise check at ladwa and Radaur Grain Markets in Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar district to review the paddy procurement arrangements there.
The Minister also talked to the farmers which apprised him that they don’t have any kind of problem with regard to paddy procurement. He also checked moisture content in paddy as well as weight of paddy bags.
Talking to reporters later, Kamboj said paddy procurement was going on smoothly in the entire state and farmers have no problem in the mandis. So far, about 41.25 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been procured in mandis in the State. Out of which, the Government agencies had procured 39.92 lakh metric tonnes and the remaining 1.32 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was purchased by traders.
He instructed the officials that shortcomings of any kind in the purchase of paddy would not be tolerated. He also directed them to keep an eye on the work of the procurement agencies regularly. They should ensure the placement of play card on dheri immediately after the arrival of paddy in the mandi. This play card should have farmer’s name, allot number and the moisture content so that transparency could be maintained and farmers should not face any problem in selling their produce.
The Minister informed that Additional Chief Secretary level officers have been appointed to take stock of the procurement work in the mandis, which were visiting mandis and looking all types of arrangements concerning smooth paddy procurement.
Kamboj said that Bajra and Sunflower were also being procured on Minimum Support Price (MSP). Target of Bajra procurement have been achieved, but a request to enhance the target had already been made to the Centre Government so that every grain of farmers could be purchased. He said maize would also be procured at MSP in the coming time so as to benefit the farmers.