The Centre on Monday stated it can procure 185 lakh tonnes of paddy from Punjab in kharif advertising and marketing season of 2024-25 and has made satisfactory preparations, together with storage capability, to satisfy the procurement goal.
The Union Meals Ministry stated that the procurement began on October 1 and is working easily, even because the Punjab authorities raised considerations over the dearth of storage capability within the state and likewise issues confronted by millers in addition to fee brokers.
On Monday, Union Meals Minister Pralhad Joshi met with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to debate points associated to the continued paddy procurement in KMS (kharif advertising and marketing season) 2024-25 within the state.
“Paddy procurement in Punjab has commenced from October 1, 2024, and is continuing easily,” an official assertion stated. Ample storage preparations have been made to keep away from any problem within the easy operation of paddy procurement.
Procurement of 124.14 lakh tonnes of rice was estimated from Punjab final 12 months, in KMS 2023-24, which was 100 per cent achieved.
“This 12 months for KMS 2024-25, Authorities of India has already authorised an estimated procurement of 124 lakh tonnes of rice from Punjab which is equal to 185 lakh tonnes of paddy and Authorities of India is procuring the identical from the State with none restrictions,” the assertion stated.
Greater than 2,200 mandis are purposeful presently in Punjab for paddy procurement this 12 months and as of October 13, out of complete arrival of round 7 lakh tonnes of paddy, about 6 lakh tonnes have already been procured for the central pool.
Paddy procurement will proceed as normal until November 30, 2024.
In response to the Punjab authorities assertion, Mann throughout the assembly raised considerations of the rice millers and fee brokers within the state.
Mann informed Joshi that procurement of paddy is sort of a pageant within the state whose financial system is determined by this season.
The chief minister stated attributable to persistent scarcity of space for storing throughout the earlier season and availability of solely about seven lakh tonnes space for storing as on date, there’s resentment amongst the rice millers of the state for finishing up milling.
To accommodate the influx of CMR (Customized Milled Rice), the Union Meals Ministry stated an in depth plan has already been ready to supply about 40 lakh tonnes of space for storing by liquidating earlier shares of wheat in addition to that of rice from the lined godowns out there in Punjab by December 2024.
To make sure that farmers don’t face any problem, the Centre stated that satisfactory preparations together with on-line registration of farmers, integration of land information, digital procurement operations and on-line switch of MSP funds, have been made.
The Centre stated that preparations have been made to make sure full fee of MSP (minimal help value) to farmers instantly into their financial institution accounts, often inside 48 hours.
A number of different points which inter alia included assessment of the charges of fee on procurement of paddy, updation of WINGS portal and Out Flip Ratio (OTR) of paddy to rice have been mentioned.
The difficulty concerning further transportation prices being incurred by the millers was additionally mentioned. It was assured that the identical will likely be examined favourably and resolved.
“Revision of the charges of fee prices is beneath energetic consideration of the Authorities and a call within the matter will likely be taken shortly. A examine on OTR and driage of paddy is ongoing at IIT Kharagpur,” the assertion stated.
Updation of information/ fields on WINGS (Warehouse Stock Community & Governing System) portal has been executed and its visibility to all stakeholders is now out there.
