The statet government said on Monday that government agencies have so far procured 6.16 lakh metric tonnes of paddy directly from farmers under the Minimum Price Support scheme.
The government said that paddy was procured from as many as 66,257 farmers this year and payments worth Rs 955.58 crore were made.
In an official statement issued in lucknow on Monday, Chief Secretary Rajive Kumar said that the support price for purchase of paddy from farmers was Rs 1,550 per quintal and they should not be forced to sell their produce at a price below the minimum support price. last year, purchase during the same period was around 1.68 lakh metric tonnes.
The Chief Secretary directed district magistrates to publish information (in local newspapers) pertaining to purchase centers such as name of centre in-charges, their mobile numbers and other relevant information, so that farmers could easily sell their produce.
Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Nivedita Shukla Verma said that adverse entries have been given to 18 officials for laxity in paddy purchase, while eight persons have been suspended.