“We are providing highest price for paddy to our farmers as compared to other states of the country and though our contribution to the Central pool would be paid lesser amount than Rs 2500 per quintal Minimum Support Price (MSP) given by State government, it couldn’t be termed as a loss”, said State Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Transport, Housing and Environment Mohammed Akbar.
Talking exclusively to The Pioneer the Minister said that the State government had purchased paddy at Rs 2500 per quintal MSP as declared in poll manifesto. This was done to benefit the rice growers of the State and “we are bound to bear the excess amount than that of the MSP of Centre”, he said.
Around 80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy is expected to have been procured till the last date of procurement on Thursday and after milling there is around 67% rice in it, he said.
We have to contribute 24 lakh metric tonnes of boiled rice to the Central pool and against it the Centre would pay for paddy Rs 2050 per quintal (Rs 1750 per quintal and Rs 300 bonus) and also other expenses including the cost of gunny bags, transportation and milling, he said.
Though we would be paid lesser amount for paddy we are not bothered about it and the excess amount is to be borne by Chhattisgarh government in order to provide the farmers of the State 1.5 times the production price as mentioned in our election manifesto, the Minister said.
After retaining rice for distribution in ration shops through PDS, an additional quantity of rice of 3.6 lakh metric tonnes would be there with us and we are going to write to the Central government to take this additional excess rice too, the Minister said.