Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday reviewed the progress of ongoing paddy procurement at Hoshiarpur while directing the Deputy Commissioner to ensure payment to the farmers within stipulated time of 48 hours.
Capt Amarinder, presiding over a review meeting, also asked the DC to ensure lifting of crop within 72 hours.
The Chief Minister said that requisite basic amenities in all mandis of the districts should be made available to facilitate the farmers and no laxity in procurement operations would be tolerated.
Reiterating his Government’s resolve to procure every single grain of the farmers, Capt Amarinder said that the State Government had taken all measures to ensure seamless paddy procurement. He also asked DC to ensure the availability of adequate stock of gunny bags in all grain markets.
He also urged the farmers to bring only dry produce in mandis to avoid problems or delays in selling their produce.
Apprising the Chief Minister about the paddy procurement, Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujjwal said that 43,221 tonnes of paddy had arrived in the mandis of the district so far, of which 42,388 tonnes had been procured by different procurement agencies.
Emphasising the need of crop diversification in view of the prevailing agrarian crisis, Capt Amarinder also issued directions for smooth procurement of maize, which he said could play a pivotal role as an alternate crop to break the conventional wheat and paddy cycle.