Ranchi: Paddy Procurement for the Kharif season this year began in 214 minimum support centers (MSP) in the state on Wednesday.
Food Minister of Food and Civil Equipment State Rameshwar Oraon and Minister of Agriculture Badal State Patralekh was present for the formal launch on the outskirts of the city in Namkum.
On the first day, around 15,813 quintals were purchased from farmers who opposed the transfer of payments directly to RS 1.53 Crore tone to farmers had begun, officials said.
This year, the government has set a target for the procurement of 8 lakh MT Paddy, which is 2 lakh MT more than the previous year’s target.
Like last year, this time too, the government has improved the MSP RS 2,050 per quintal for normal rice and temporary RS 2070 / quintal for a-grade variants.
Jatendra Prasad, Managing Director of Food Corporation Limited, said that a total of 562 MSP centers had been arranged.
“Although all MSP centers are ready, some cannot be made functional today because of several logistical problems.
Today, we can start procurement in 214 centers and in Ranchi, from 22 MSP centers, procurement starts at eight o’clock,” he added.
According to the norm since last year, farmers who sell their rice at the procurement center will get 50% through DBT immediately and the remainder within two-three months after the right verification.
“On Wednesday night, the 1.53 crore RS payment transfer process has begun.
So tomorrow, farmers will get them in their respective bank accounts,” Prasad said.
Other officials from the department said farmers had been advised to ensure that their plants did not have more than 17% water content to sell them in MSP centers without difficulty.
“Last year, we had to postpone the procurement process due to fears of the contents of heavy humidity from various places in farmers’ shares,” he said.