Paddy procurement in the State has witnessed not so enthusiastic start, with only around 100 farmers turning to the procurement centres since day one of this month. However, the Government hopes better response early in 2017.
“We all know that all the farmers in State have not done with reaping of their paddy crops. Contrary to this, some are still in sowing process itself. Then, most of the people go in Christmas and New Year from mid-month itself, which carries on till first week of January. So, I am sure the process is going to intensify thereafter,” said Food, Civil Supplies and Public Distribution Department Joint Secretary Chhavi Ranjan on Sunday.
He added that the system adopted for procurement this year made it easier for farmers to come at centres on pre-decided dates. “We have sent over 1,000 of SMSs and reminders to similar number of farmers to come at procurement centres. Moreover, we also make sure that the payment is made directly to their accounts within a week,” said Ranjan.
Paddy procurement process in Jharkhand has begun at the specified procurement centres from in December. The process is scheduled to continue till March 31, 2017, which has also been kept as the last date of registration for the farmers to take part in this season’s procurement. The government has fixed Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 1,470 per quintal as specified by the Union and announced Rs 130 as bonus from its part taking the price at Rs 1600.
“This is the first year when we are giving additional bonus of Rs 130 per quintal. This lucrative bonus has resulted in over 60,000 farmers getting registered for procurement with more than three months of time still left for registration. We have more than 17,000 registrations to be cleared even now,” said Ranjan.
As per the Government data, there are 417 functional procurement centres in the State as of now, from where government has targeted to procure at least 4 lakh Metric Tonnes of paddy this year. “We believe that the number of centres is sufficient, and if could be increased by district administration if and when required,” the official added.
However, calling it necessary, he admitted that the complexities of registration system might keep some of the away from procurement drive. “But I believe it is helpful in keeping the figure and picture transparent. The volume of procurement is kept completely based on the area of field a farmer owns, which has to be verifiable through multiple sources and documents. Yet again, quality of paddy has also been defined according to central government agencies, so that farmers don’t compromise with quality only to increase quantity. But these are necessary measures to keep possible outsider farmers away from system,” said Ranjan.