Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adaish Pratap Singh Kairon 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 140 MT of paddy this year. Of the total paddy PUNGRAIN would procure 25%, PUNSUP 23% Markfed 22%, Agro 9%. FCI 10%, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 11% in all the 1806 purchase centers set up across the state.
Reviewing the arrangements of the Paddy procurement for the Kharif Season 2014-15 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. In line with the directive of the central government, the Punjab government has decided to use 40 Kg. gunny bags instead of 35 Kgs. which would save approximately Rs. 200 crore during the ensuing procurement, said Mr. Kairon. 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. 1400 per quintal for Grade A and Rs. 1360 per quintal for common variety of Paddy. 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.