Aiming to make paddy procurement more farmer-centric, the Uttar Pradesh government has set a target of purchasing a maximum of 50,000 quintals of paddy on four days of the week (Monday to Thursday) in the current Kharif marketing season (October 2021-March 2022).
Ensuring that every farmer gets a fair price for his produce, the state government has also targeted to purchase more than 50,000 quintals of paddy on the remaining two days (Friday and Saturday).
After achieving the target of 66 lakh MT paddy purchase in the last Kharif season, the state government is targeting a new record this season by purchasing 70 lakh MT of paddy. The market arrival of paddy is expected to start within a week.
The state government has made elaborate preparations to increase the number of paddy procurement centres to 4,000 in 75 districts and ensure immediate payments after the purchase of the crop.
The government has not only taken measures to provide better opportunities to the farmers but has also taken action against the agencies for not making timely payments to the farmers during wheat procurement.
Of the purchase centres, 1,100 centres will be of the marketing division of Food and Civil Supplies department, 1,500 of UP Cooperative Federation (PCF), 600 of Pradeshik Cooperative Union Ltd (PCU), 200 of UP State Krishi Utpadan Mandi Parishad, 300 of UP Consumer Cooperative Union (UPSS) and 300 of Food Corporation of India.
This season the paddy will be purchased at an increased minimum support price (MSP) which has been fixed at Rs 1,940 per quintal for common paddy and Rs 1,960 per quintal of Grade A paddy.
To facilitate farmers, purchase centres will remain open on all working days, except Sundays and gazetted holidays. To make the procurement process more transparent and hassle-free, district magistrates of all 75 districts of the state have been directed to make surprise inspections of these centres every week.