Chhattisgarh is missing among key paddy growing States in Centre’s list which were offered a procurement target for paddy to be grown during Rabi and summer seasons for Kharif Marketing Season 2015-16.
The targets for paddy procurement in terms of rice for winter/ summer crop in Kharif Marketing Season 2015-16 for the six States is as follows — Andhra Pradesh (16.70 MT), Telangana ( 6.30 MT), Odisha (8 MT), Tamil Nadu (9.50 MT), Kerala (2.70 MT) and West Bengal (6.80 MT).
In the conference of the Food Secretaries of the States held in New Delhi under the chairpersonship of Vrinda Sarup, Secretary (Food), Government of India on Monday, the prospects of production of wheat and procurement targets for Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2016-17 were discussed, officials stated.
In consultation with the States, it was decided to procure 300 lakh MT of wheat during RMS 2016-17, which is the same as was for the last season. The actual procurement of wheat during RMS 2015-16 was 280.88 lakh MT, inspite of wheat crop getting affected due to untimely rains and hailstorms during last March-April.
In the Conference, the targets for procurement of paddy grown in Rabi/Winter/ Summer crop of Kharif Marketing Season 2015-16 for various States were also set in terms of rice.
In August last year, Chhattisgarh was ranked second in the country during the Kharif season among a list of 18 States with targetted procurement of 36 lakh metric tonnes of paddy crop during 2015-16.
Punjab was ranked first in the country in the Kharif season among 18 States in the country with paddy procurement target of 82 lakh metric tonnes , according to the data of 18 States which was released by the Central Government.
In a meeting of State Food Secretaries held in New Delhi recently, the procurement target for Kharif Marketing Season 2015-16 was finalised at a total of 300 lakh metric tonnes in the rice growing States.
States were asked to identify immediately areas with maximum paddy production and to open adequate purchase centres and deploy sufficient manpower. They have also been advised to make arrangements for publicising MSP fixed, procurement centres opened through print and audio-visual media as well as through pamphlets in local languages, officials stated.
The Governments were asked to prepare details of storage plan for the ensuing Kharif Marketing Season and have an action plan to meet the deficit in storage requirements, if required, they stated.
Regarding packaging material, Food Secretaries were requested to place indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid last minute shortage of packaging material.
The States were also requested to furnish, on daily basis, the revenue district-wise procurement details of previous day for Online Procurement Monitoring System (OPMS).
The FCI was directed to constitute joint teams with the State Governments to oversee the conduct of procurement operations and to attend specific complaints, problems etc, officials stated.