PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rekha Arya directed officials to ensure that farmers receive payment within 72 hours of Kharif crop procurement in Uttarakhand. She gave the instructions during a departmental review meeting at Devendra Shastri Bhawan in Dehradun on Tuesday, focusing on the purchase of paddy and ragi.
Arya said that the State government has allocated a budget of Rs 600 crore to ensure timely payments. The central government has fixed the minimum support price at Rs 2,369 per quintal for paddy and 4,886 rupees per quintal for ragi this year. She instructed officials to increase storage facilities and ensure adequate availability of jute bags at all procurement centres.
Officials from Food Corporation of India, Mandi Samiti and rice mill organisations also raised their concerns during the meeting and Arya assured prompt resolution. She also stated that the State aims to procure 7.5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy and 5,000 metric tonnes of ragi this year.
She added that the number of procurement centres has also been increased in both Garhwal and Kumaun divisions, with Garhwal now having 135 centres compared to last year’s 120 and Kumaun having 600 centres compared to 564 last year. She informed that P procurement of crops will begin on October 1.
