In the year 2011-12 Hazaribagh district has topped the list in paddy procurement in the State. Former CM Arjun Munda had felicitated the then DC on November 15, 2012 at Ranchi for this achievement. This year too record paddy procurement has been done at Hazaribagh and the officials are hoping that once again their district will be on top.
In 2011-12 at Hazaribagh 507571.95 quintal paddy was procured through different PACs. At that time the peasants were given a rate of Rs1080 per quintal for their paddy. The district administration got 339093.40 quintal rice from the rice mills at the rate of 68 kg rice per quintal paddy.
In 2012-13 Government increased the procurement price of paddy to Rs1250 per quintal. Through 40 procurement centers the district administration purchased paddy from the peasants. Once again good result has come and Hazaribagh district administration has procured 505896.88 quintal paddy which is enough for the crown for second consecutive year.
After procurement from the centers this paddy has already been sent to the rice mills and till date 8615 quintal rice has reached in the godowns of Food Corporation of India. This year the district administration has given the time frame of 1st October 2013 to the rice mills to supply all the rice to the godowns.
The procurement of paddy is less this year in comparison to the quantity of paddy procured last year. This year 1600 quintal less paddy has been procured but this year not a single report of irregularity has come from any corner of the district. This year due to increased number of procurement centers it became easier for the farmers to carry their paddy to the center.
The district cooperative officer Ravishankar Pandey says that the main factor of this success is that we had paid and we are paying full amount of the paddy to the peasants at a time. At centers we had only checked the quality of paddy and after purchase paid the peasants according to the rate fixed by the Government. He said that last year we had received some complaints that the peasants are getting less payment and they are getting no receipts. This year till date no complaints has come to our office.