Paddy procurement at support price continues across all districts of the state on 4th day

Raipur, 18 November

The paddy procurement process from farmers at the support price has continued uninterrupted for the 4th day in every district of the state. Although paddy procurement began from november 15 the arrival of paddy at procurement centres across Chhattisgarh has already increased rapidly. Despite the strike by cooperative society employees, procurement remains completely unaffected, and farmers are selling their paddy at all societies and procurement centres without any hindrance.

On November 18, 4 lakh 56 thousand 859 quintals of paddy were procured from farmers at the support price. Since the procurement began on 15 November, the state has so far procured a total of 7 lakh 28 thousand 4 quintals of paddy. This includes 3 lakh 4 thousand 512 quintals of mota, 2 lakh 1 thousand 174 quintals of patla, and 2 lakh 22 thousand 317 quintals of sarna varieties.

In consonance with the vision of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, all 2,739 paddy procurement centres in the state have been equipped with facilities such as a “transparent token system”, electronic weighing machine, moisture measuring devices, gunny bags and other arrangements to ensure farmers face no inconvenience. Along with procurement, the Chhattisgarh Government has also ensured a “timely and reliable” payment process for farmers. This year, the Chhattisgarh Government has provided a bank guarantee of Rs. 26,200 crore to the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Federation, ensuring smooth payment of the support price without any difficulty.

According to information received from the Food Department, paddy procurement has commenced in all 33 districts. As of November 18, farmers have sold their paddy at 1,155 procurement centres. Bemetara district has recorded the highest procurement, with 97,698.8 quintals, followed by Rajnandgaon with 92,390.4 quintals and Raipur with 83,299.2 quintals, securing the second and third positions, respectively, in the state.

As per district-wise reports received up to 18 November, 395.6 quintals were procured in Bastar, 155.2 quintals in Bijapur, 6.4 quintals in Dantewada, 754.8 quintals in Kanker, 5,351.2 quintals in Kondagaon, 7.2 quintals in Narayanpur, 24.4 quintals in Sukma, 4,050.4 quintals in Bilaspur, 6,668.4 quintals in Gaurela–Pendra–Marwahi, 67.6 quintals in Janjgir-Champa, 396.8 quintals in Korba, 8,806.8 quintals in Mungeli, 3,949.6 quintals in Raigarh, 48 quintals in Sakti, 3,922.8 quintals in Sarangarh–Bilaigarh, 70,197.2 quintals in Balod, 97,698.8 quintals in Bemetara, 73,033.6 quintals in Durg, 22,252.4 quintals in Kabirdham, 92,390.4 quintals in Rajnandgaon, 50,926 quintals in Khairagarh–Chhuikhadan–Gandai, 3,214 quintals in Mohla–Manpur–Ambagarh Chowki, 60,551.2 quintals in Balodabazar, 75,660.8 quintals in Dhamtari, 28,674.4 quintals in Gariaband, 23,388.8 quintals in Mahasamund, 83,299.2 quintals in Raipur, 1,490.4 quintals in Balrampur, 248 quintals in Jashpur, 4,200 quintals in Koriya, 645.2 quintals in Surguja, 3,415.2 quintals in Surajpur, and 1,513.6 quintals in Manendragarh–Chirmiri–Bharatpur.

According to reports from the districts, farmers are “delighted” with the well-organised arrangements at the procurement centres. They are neither facing delays in selling paddy nor encountering problems during weighing, and the entire process is functioning in a “smooth and efficient” manner.