Implementation of Chief Minister’s announcement: Paddy will be procured from farmers at a rate of 20 quintals per acre
Raipur: According to the recent announcement made by chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, registered farmers in Chhattisgarh will have the opportunity to sell paddy at a rate of 20 quintals per acre during the upcoming 2023-2024 kharif marketing season. A meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee–constituted to review policies for paddy procurement and custom milling and recommend suggestions–chaired by Food Minister Amarjeet, was held today in the Assembly Hall located in the Vidhan Sabha premises. It is worth mentioning that the state government has set an estimated target of purchasing 125 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from registered farmers in the upcoming Kharif marketing year 2023-24.
Detailed discussions were held for the determination of policy regarding paddy and maize procurement at support price, farmer registration, gunny bags, and financial arrangements for the upcoming 2023-24 Kharif marketing season. During the meeting, Agriculture Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu and Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar, alongside Cooperative Minister Ravindra Choubey who participated through video conferencing, were present. The ministers stated that the systematic paddy procurement process is carried out through cooperative societies in the state. They stressed the need to further strengthen these cooperative societies.
The state has witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of farmers and area under cultivation over the past four and half years, thanks to the farmer-centric policies and decisions implemented by the state government led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The agricultural sector has also experienced significant expansion in terms of production. The pioneering initiatives of the state government have greatly facilitated the smooth conduct of paddy procurement and paddy lifting processes. To further support farmers and ensure smooth paddy sales, comprehensive preparations are underway this year as well to provide them with the necessary facilities.
Officials informed the meeting that an estimated 33.61 lakh hectares of land in the state will be under paddy cultivation during the upcoming kharif season. As per chief minister Bhupesh Baghel’s announcement, paddy will be procured from farmers at a rate of 20 quintals per acre in the 2023-24 Kharif Marketing Year. Consequently, comprehensive preparations are underway to strengthen the paddy procurement system within cooperative societies to facilitate the estimated procurement. The preparations involve crucial tasks, including farmer registration, arrangement of gunny bags, enhancement of amenities at procurement centers, and ensuring streamlined payment arrangements for farmers.
