According to the Union Food Ministry, the Centre has purchased 606.19 lakh tonnes of paddy so far in the present 2021-22 marketing season, with maximum quantities being purchased from Punjab on Monday.
"Till now, almost 77 lakh farmers have benefited from the minimum support price (MSP) value of Rs.1,18,812.56 crore," the ministry said in a statement.
Till the end of the current marketing season on January 23, 186.85 lakh tonne of paddy has been procured from Punjab, followed by 82.62 lakh tonne from Chhattisgarh, 69.08 lakh tonne from Telangana, 55.30 lakh tonne from Haryana, and 56.49 lakh tonne from Uttar Pradesh.
The paddy marketing season begins in October and lasts until September.
The government purchased 895.83 lakh tonnes of paddy at an MSP of Rs.169133.26 crore during the 2020-21 marketing season.
The government conducts procurement operations through the state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state-run agencies.
The government buys mostly paddy and wheat to protect farmers with MSP and to distribute grains at heavily subsidized rates through ration stores to poor beneficiaries registered under the National Food Security Act.
Govt. Made Targets For Paddy Procurement
In order to make paddy procurement more farmer-centric, the Uttar Pradesh government established a goal of acquiring a maximum of 50,000 quintals of paddy on four days of the week (Monday through Thursday) during the current Kharif marketing season (October 2021-March 2022).
To ensure that every farmer receives a fair price for his crop, the state government planned to buy more than 50,000 quintals of paddy over the next two days (Friday and Saturday).
After acquiring 66 lakh MT of paddy in the last Kharif season, the state government aimed to set a new record this season by purchasing 70 lakh MT of paddy.
The state government made extensive preparations to raise the number of paddy procurement centers in 75 districts to 4,000 and to ensure timely payments following crop acquisition.
The government had not only taken steps to improve farmer opportunities, but it has also taken action against entities that have failed to provide timely payments to farmers during wheat procurement.
Purchase centers will be open on all working days, except Sundays and gazetted holidays, to assist farmers. To make the procurement process more transparent and hassle-free, district magistrates from all 75 districts in the state have been asked to conduct weekly surprise inspections of these centers.
