During the current procurement season in Haryana, the procurement of Bajra is being done in 26 mandis of 14 districts of the State at Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs1,275 per quintal.
As per the present policy of the Central Government for the purchase of coarse grain, the entire payment of the farmers would be made through account payee cheque, said a spokesperson of the State Government.
A review meeting of Agriculture and Food and Supplies Department was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar lal on Monday.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister directed that the procurement agencies should ensure that the farmers do not, in any way, get price lower than the MSP and are not forced to resort to any distress sale of their produce. He also directed that in case any stocks that have arrived in Mandis do not conform to specifications, the same should be got improved by cleaning, drying or blending with good quality of foodgrains etc.
It was informed in the meeting that as per the Government’s decision, the BPl families would be made available 10 kilogram Bajra per month per family at the rate of Rs1 per kilogram during the months of November, December, January and February. The Chief Minister was informed that about 35 to 40 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was expected to arrive in the mandis of the State. The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) has already made it mandatory for every Arhtia (middleman) to have electric fans, sufficient labour, wooden crates, polythene covers etc. This facility could be availed by any farmer to bring his produce up to the prescribed specifications.