Eyeing 140 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy, Punjab is all set to start paddy procurement from October 1. Punjab’s target for the Kharif Marketing season 2014-15 represents an about 10 per cent jump over crop purchased in the previous season for the central pool. The State, during previous season, had procured about 127 lakh MT of paddy.
“We have made arrangements for procuring 140 lakh tonnes of paddy for the Kharif marketing season for the paddy purchase. The State Government has sought cash credit limit of about Rs 22,000 crore from the reserve Bank of India (RBI),” said Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon on Sunday.
Kairon issued directions to all the heads of the State procurement agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI) to personally supervise the process for the same across the State so as to ensure prompt lifting of the paddy as per their allotted share of procurement. Of the total paddy, State-owned Pungrain will procure 25 per cent while PUNSUP, MARKFED, Punjab Agro, FCI and PSWC will buy 23 per cent, 22 per cent, nine per cent, 10 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.
A total of 1,806 purchase centres have been set across the State for the Kharif Marketing season. Reviewing the paddy procurement arrangements, Kairon said that all out efforts would be made to ensure smooth, hassle-free and quick procurement of paddy. Farmers should not be put to any inconvenience for the sale of their produce at the mandis, he added.
Meanwhile, in line with a directive from the Centre, Punjab government has decided to use 40-kg gunny bags instead of the 35-kg ones for paddy procurement. The move will save Rs 200 crore.
Switching to the larger bags would bring down the requirement to 6.30 lakh gunny bags from the earlier 7.20 lakh bags which will result in a huge saving on costs incidental to the purchase of paddy, the official said. Minister asked the concerned officers to ensure that there would be no shortage of gunny bags for storage of grains. Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy — Grade A and Common variety — has been kept at Rs 1,400 per quintal and Rs 1,360 per quintal, respectively.