Chandigarh, September 25
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday affirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to procuring every single grain of farmers’ paddy in the grain markets (Mandis).
During a meeting to review paddy procurement in the state, the Chief Minister assured that the state government has made comprehensive arrangements to purchase farmers’ golden harvest as soon as it arrives in the Mandis. He stated that a viable mechanism has been established to ensure on-the-spot payment to farmers into their bank accounts. Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized smooth and hassle-free grain procurement to ensure farmers face no inconvenience.
The Chief Minister stated that all efforts have been made to ensure seamless, hassle-free, and quick procurement of Paddy while facilitating farmers in receiving timely payments for their produce. He categorically stated that Punjab’s farmers should not face any inconvenience for selling their produce in the mandis. Bhagwant Mann asserted that the state government is obligated to ensure that every golden grain of the farmers is procured and lifted immediately
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Meanwhile, a delegation of the Punjab Rice Millers Association met with the Chief Minister on the sidelines of the meeting. Bhagwant Mann assured them that the state government would flag their issue with the union government, reiterating its commitment to protecting the interests of every section of society.
The Chief Minister also raised the issue with the Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister telephonically and sought his intervention to resolve the matter. He requested the Union Minister to direct the FCI to create sufficient space for rice delivery, ensuring seamless procurement of paddy/rice for KMS 24-25 in the State. Vehemently raising the issue of a serious lack of delivery space with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Chief Minister lamented that the space crunch since May onwards has hampered rice delivery from KMS 2023-24 by Punjab’s rice millers to FCI in the Central Pool. He further expressed concerns about the potential space crunch during the upcoming Kharif Season 2024-25.
Meanwhile, the Union government has granted the Government of Punjab authorization for a Cash Credit Limit of Rs 41,339.81 crore for the procurement of paddy up to the end of October 2024 in KMS 2024-25.
