Food and Civil Supplies Minister Mr. Adaish Pratap Singh Kairon has 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 October 1 so as to ensure prompt lifting of paddy as per their allotted share of procurement. Punjab was eying to procure 160 LMT of paddy this year. Of the total paddy PUNGRAIN would procure 24%, PUNSUP 23% Markfed 23%, Agro 10%. FCI 12%, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 08% in all the 1830 purchase centers set up across the state.Reviewing the arrangements of the Paddy procurement for the Kharif Season 2016-17 in the state, Mr. Kairon 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.
He categorically said that good quality sturdy gunny bags with accurate weight would be ensured while packing the produce. He also said that the officers concerned have been especially asked to visit the mandis during the procurement and ensure smooth lifting. He said the field staff would work day and night to procure the stocks even on Saturdays and Sundays and also on government holidays. The Minister has also asked the officers concerned to ensure that there would be no shortage of gunny bags for storage of grains, he added. The minister has asked Punjab Mandi Board officials to make sure of arrangements in mandis to save produce and to have proper sanitation facilities. The Government of India has fixed MSP for paddy Rs. 1510 per quintal for Grade A and Rs. 1470 per quintal for common variety of Paddy.Proposal regarding Cash Credit Limit has been sent by Finance Department to RBI on for availing CCL limit of Rs. 26089.80 crore for the purchase of 132 LMT Paddy by the State Agencies. FCI will make its own arrangements for the funds required for purchase of paddy. Mr. Kairon made a fervent appeal to all the farmers to bring dry clean and fully matured paddy to the mandis and at the same time he has asked the district administration not to allow paddy harvesting during night time as the moisture in atmosphere is more at night than during the day time.