Paddy procurement on support price from November 3
Bhopal: Paddy procurement on support price in the state will begin from November 3 this year and conclude on January 25, 2014. As much as 17 lakh MT is estimated to be procured this year. Rs. 1360 per quintal has been fixed as the price for common paddy and Rs. 1400 per quintal for Grade-A paddy.
Concerning cooperative societies will be responsible for procurement of paddy. Training about testing of paddy quality was imparted to the field staff of cooperative societies, Madhya Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation, Warehousing & Logistics Corporation and Food, Cooperatives and Revenue departments at district level.
State and district level committees have been constituted to monitor arrangements. Commissioner Food & Civil Supplies will be Chairman of the state-level committee. Its members will include Managing Director of MP State Civil Supplies Corporation, Commissioner and Registrar Cooperative Societies, MD and Commissioner Madhya Pradesh State Agriculture Marketing Board (Mandi Board) and MD of Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Bank (Apex Bank). The district level monitoring committees will be headed by concerning district collectors. Its members will include district information officer (NIC), district supply controller or district supply officer, General Manager of District Cooperative Central Bank, Assistant Commissioner Cooperative Societies, local representative of Warehousing & Logistics Corporation and representative of Food Corporation of India. District Manager of Madhya Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation will be its coordinator. The district level committees will take final decision on all disputes apart from monitoring quality of procured paddy. Collectors have been asked to appoint one officer as “single point of contact” for all issues pertaining to paddy procurement. This officer will also contact senior officers at state level regarding procurement-related arrangements.
Orders have been given to constitute checking teams to check sale of unauthorised paddy. These teams will take necessary action to prevent inflow of paddy from bordering states. A control room for paddy procurement is being set up at Directorate of Food & Civil Supplies (Vindhyachal Bhavan) which will function from November 3 to January 25, 2015 from 9 am to 8 pm. Its phone number will be 0755-2573877. Besides, farmers may also register their complaint/problem on toll-free number 155343 and CM Helpline 181.
