Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution met with the Chief Minister of Punjab to address the ongoing paddy procurement for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25. Paddy procurement in Punjab commenced on October 1, 2024, and is progressing smoothly. Last year, Punjab successfully achieved its target of procuring 124.14 lakh metric tonnes of rice for KMS 2023-24. For this year, the Government of India has approved the procurement of 124 lakh metric tonnes of rice, equivalent to 185 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, and this is being carried out without restrictions.
Currently, over 2,200 mandis are operational in Punjab, facilitating the smooth procurement process. As of October 13, 2024, out of the total 7 lakh tonnes of paddy arrivals, around 6 lakh tonnes have already been procured for the central pool. This procurement process will continue until November 30, 2024.
To ensure smooth operations, adequate storage arrangements have been made, including a plan to create 40 lakh tonnes of storage space by December 2024. This will be achieved by liquidating previous stocks of wheat and rice from covered godowns in Punjab. This detailed preparation ensures there will be no hindrance in accommodating the inflow of custom-milled rice (CMR).
Several farmer-friendly initiatives are in place to make procurement easier, such as online registration, integration of land records, digital procurement, and online payment transfers. Farmers are assured of receiving Minimum Support Price (MSP) payments directly into their bank accounts within 48 hours of procurement.
The meeting also discussed issues like the revision of commission rates for paddy procurement, the Out Turn Ratio (OTR) of Paddy to Rice, and the additional transportation charges faced by millers. These concerns are being reviewed, with decisions expected soon.
IIT Kharagpur is conducting a study on OTR and the driage of paddy, while the WINGS portal, a crucial part of the warehousing network, has been updated for improved visibility and transparency for all stakeholders.
