BJP hits out at CM over paddy procurement delay
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday reiterated its demand asking the Chhattisgarh Government to commence paddy procurement from November 1.
BJP leaders said that farmers had harvested the crop and will incur huge losses if the procurement did not begin at the start of November.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has announced that the procurement at minimum support price (MSP) will commence on December 1.
Former Agriculture Minister and MLA Brijmohan Agrawal said that generally farmers cultivate two types of paddy — Mahamaya and Sarna. The Mahamaya variety is ready to harvest within 115-125 days while Sarna takes 130-145 days.
In the current year, due to early monsoon rains, the sowing of paddy was completed from June 15 to 30. Thus, the harvesting for Mahamaya paddy is nearing completion while Sarna will commence in the first week of November, Agrawal stated.
He pointed out that in case of procurement in December, the farmers will incur heavy losses due to drying up of paddy.
