Millet Mission Corporation should be formed to increase food production: Madhya Pradesh CM

Bhopal: Chief Minister Kamal Nath has said that a Millet Mission Corporation should be formed to increase the production and use of small grains. The Chief Minister has given instructions to ensure procurement of paddy from all the farmers by January 20 and payment is also made on time. While issuing instructions to make prior preparations for procurement and storage of upcoming rabi crops in advance, the Chief Minister has asked the officials to sign an MoU with the Government of India soon for decentralized procurement. Kamal Nath was reviewing preparation for procurement of Rabi crops and progress of paddy procurement at the Mantralaya. Cooperative Minister Dr Govind Singh, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pradyumna Singh Tomar, Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Sachin Yadav were present in the meeting.
Chief Minister Kamal Nath said that all collectors should be directed to keep a strict vigil to ensure that paddy and rice should not come from other states during the procurement. The Chief Minister instructed to make arrangements by assessing the procurement centres in advance for the production and procurement of upcoming Rabi crops. He also asked to determine the accountability of the procurement agencies. The Chief Minister said that there should be less expenditure on transportation of procured wheat. Keeping the convenience of farmers in view, maximum procurement centres should be established in consultation with the district administration. Essential facilities of canteen etc. should be made available to the farmers at the procurement centres, a proposal for the amount to be spent should be prepared. The Chief Minister told to chalk out a plan to widely publicize the schemes being run by the government for the welfare of farmers in the procurement centres.
On storage and packing system of procured food grains, Chief Minister Kamal Nath said that information about the godowns constructed by private sector and cooperative societies should be obtained from the collectors. On completion of the capacity of the godowns, instructions should be given to the collectors to select and reserve land for construction of cape and silo. The Chief Minister said that a plan should be made to develop godown and other facilities for fair price shops and procurement centres in future. The Chief Minister told to make full preparations regarding availability of gunny bags and other options. He directed that the district collectors will be responsible for monitoring the procurement. Stringent action should be taken against the irregularities in procurement and they should be removed immediately from the procurement work. The Chief Minister directed to distribute jowar and bajra acquired at the support price from the fair price shops of the public distribution system.
Principal Secretary Food and Civil Supplies Neelam Shami Rao told that payment of Rs 703 crore has been made to farmers in paddy procurement process so far. This year there has been a rise of 23 lakh hectare in wheat rakba. About 95 to 105 lakh metric tonne wheat procurement is estimated. Production and procurement of 108 lakh metric tonne of wheat, gram, lentil and mustard is estimated. Information of preparation related to procurement centre, storage, problem of gunny bags, transport etc. was given in the meeting.