In view of the delay in harvesting of paddy crop due to unpleasant weather, the state government has decided to start procurement from farmers from December 1 instead of f November 15.
A decision regarding the same was taken by a cabinet subcommittee in its meeting on Thursday.
Later briefing news persons, Ministers Mohammad Akbar and Amarjeet Bhagat informed that this year a target of procuring 85 lakh metric ton of paddy is being set. The state needs 25 lakh metric ton of rice for Public Distribution System (PDS) and for it around 38 Lakh metric ton of paddy is needed, they informed.
“Earlier the Union government had permitted to deposit 24 lakh metric tons of parboiled rice under central pool and this year too we have demanded of the Centre to permit that”, Akbar said.
Regarding commencement of paddy procurement, the minister duo informed that the concerned department had been instructed to make necessary preparations so that the farmers of the state could sell their crops in ‘Mandis’ in a systematic way.