Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today directed all the heads of the state procurements agencies and especially the General Manager FCI Punjab region to personally supervise the Paddy procurement operations across the state beginning from 1st October so as to ensure prompt lifting of paddy as per their allotted share of procurement. Reviewing the arrangements of the Paddy procurement for the Kharif Season 2012-13 in the state, during a meeting held here at Punjab Bhawan, Badal said that all out efforts should be made to ensure smooth, hassle free and quick procurement of Paddy on one hand and facilitate the farmers in getting timely payment of their produce on the other. He categorically said that farmers of the state should not be put to any inconvenience for the sale of their produce in the mandis.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Food & Civil Supplies and Managing Director PUNGRAIN Satwant Singh Johal apprised the Chief Minister that elaborate arrangements had been made for the procurement of 150 lac MT of paddy against the expected arrival of 130 lac MT during the current Kharif season. The state government has allotted PUNGRAIN 37.50 lac MT (25%), MARKFED 33 lac MT (22%), PUNSUP 24.50 lac MT (23%), Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 16.50 lac MT (11%), Punjab Agro Industries 13.50 lac MT (9%) and FCI 15 lac MT (10%) as its share of Paddy procurement. According to state agriculture department 163.68 lac MT of Paddy production was expected from an area of 28.10 lakh hectares sown under crop this year. The procurement agencies would purchase paddy at the MSP of Rs.1250 per quintal for Common and Rs.1280 per quintal for Grade ‘A’ during the current Kharif season against Rs.1080 and Rs.1110 per quintal for these varieties during 2011-12. As many as 1770 mandis/purchase centers have been notified for the procurement of paddy in the state. It was also informed in the meeting that the cash credit limit amounting to Rs.22509.90 crore for the procurement of 135 lac MT of paddy by the state procurement agencies had already been sent to the finance department for onward transmission of Reserve Bank of India and the limit was likely to be approved by RBI much ahead of the onset of procurement season. Taking part in the deliberations, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon informed the Chief Minister that he was in constant touch with the Director General Supplies & Disposal Ministry of Food & Civil Supplies GoI and Jute Commissioner for the adequate supply of gunny bags. He also underscored the need to advice the farmers to get the prescribed form ‘J’ from the commission agents positively after the sale of their produce. Kairon also said that the custom milling policy for the kharif season 2012-13 was under active consideration of the state government and would be announced shortly. He further informed that the state government had also urged the GoI to liquidate the wheat stock procured in ones used bags and stored by the state agencies in mandi yards during Rabi Marketing Season 2012-13 so as to ensure smooth procurement of Paddy. Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Chief Parliamentary Secretary Parkash Chand Garg, Financial Commissioner Development GS Sandhu, Principal Secretary to CM SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to CM KJS Cheema, MD Punjab Agro Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, MD Warehousing Corporation AS Bains, Secretary Mandi Board Mohinder Singh Kainth, MD PUNSUP Preetdev Singh Shergill and MD MARKFED Dr.GS Sra.