State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Punnulal Mohale on Tuesday here reviewed the preparations underway for the purchase of paddy at Minimum Support Price (MSP) by Co-Operative Committees from November 15 this year.
The Minister said that the target is to purchase 65 lakh metric tonnes of paddy on Minimum Support Price (MSP) in the fiscal 2016-17 Kharif season.
Food Department Secretary Richa Sharma said that the registration of farmers selling paddy had been extended till October 22 this year. About 14.25 lakh farmers had been registered till date.
The State Government has issued detailed guidelines in the context of custom milling policy of paddy procured at MSP in Kharif Marketing Year 2016-17, officials informed.
The State Food Civil Supply and Consumer Protection Department has issued circular in this context to all the District Collectors on October 4 from the Mantralaya here.
Nearly 21 lakh metric tonnes of rice is the annual requirement of State for public distribution system, concerned schemes of Government of India and Chhattisgarh Food and Security Scheme.
After custom milling, rice will be delivered to State Civil Supply Corporation and Food Corporation from November 15 to June 30, 2017.
As per the circular, entire stock of paddy procured in Korba district and districts of Bastar and Surguja Division will be transported for custom milling on March 15, 2017.
likewise, paddy procured in districts of Raipur, Durg and Bilaspur Divisions (except Korba district) will be transported for custom milling on April 30, 2017.
Entire stock of paddy from all paddy procurement centres of the State will be loaded for transportation by February 20, 2017 compulsorily. Under Custom milling policy, farmer rice mills operated by MarkFed will be provided paddy for custom milling in Kharif year 2016-17. For this, registration of farmer mill is mandatory, officials stated.
Miller will have to collect paddy within 10 days from the day District Marketing Officer releases delivery order. In case of delay, there is a provision of penalty in the contract.
In the circular, District Collectors have been directed to call a meeting for discussion over immediate custom milling of paddy procured from rice mill associations of respective districts. Before the commencement of paddy procurement, applications for milling should be received by November 10 and permission should be given in advance, and accordingly contract should be prepared.
In the meeting, millers should be encouraged to collect paddy in maximum quantity directly from societies.
The State Seed Corporation should arrange for warehouses for State Civil Supply Corporation and Food Corporation of India for storage of rice as per the requirement. State Seed Corporation will make arrangements for scientific storage of rice collected.