The State Government has fixed Rs 1,360 as minimum support price per quintal for common paddy and Rs 1400 per quintal for Grade One paddy for this Kharif season.
It may be recalled that the minimum support price per quintal for common paddy was fixed by the Government at Rs 1310 and Rs 1345 per quintal of Grade One paddy during the last year’s Kharif season. The officials concerned have informed that a total 60 paddy purchasing centres have been set up by different Government agencies, including State Food Supply Department, State Cooperative Sector and the Food Cooperation India (FCI), in various parts of Udham Singh Nagar district.
Out of the total 60 paddy purchasing centres, the State Food Supply Department set up seven while the State Cooperative Department opened 47, added the Udham Singh Nagar district administration officials. Similarly, four paddy purchasing centres have been set up by the FCI at different places of Udham Singh Nagar, they further said. The officials concerned have also asked the farmers to bring their produce to such centres while keeping the humidity level below 17 per cent as per the norms.
The paddy procurement exercise will continue in different parts of the district till January 31, 2015, said the officials. The paddy procurement cenrtes will remain open between 8.30 and to 5 pm, they added. At the same time, the district administration has emphasised on the need to raise awareness about the existing paddy procurement centres so that the farmers come to these procurement centres to sell their produce.
The district administration Udham Singh Nagar has also asked the officials concerned to take necessary steps so that the paddy procurement process is carried out smoothly and the farmers can get due prices for their produce.