Hyderabad: The State government has taken all steps for paddy purchase during Kharif season from farmers at minimum support price with making preparations to see that farmers face no hurdles in selling their paddy.
Commissioner for Civil Supplies Akun Sabharwal held a video conference with Joint Collectors, DCSOs, DMs on Kharif Season preparations. A wall poster was released on the occasion on creating awareness among farmers on Minimum Support Price. Commissioner also instructed officials to be very careful at paddy purchasing as it was concerned with lakhs of farmers. He said paddy purchase centers should be set up at a distance of every 5km kilometer easily reachable to farmers and ordered officials to set up purchase centers from next month, keeping in view of regional requirements.
Estimations were made to procure paddy in October Lakh Metric Tons, in November 14 LMTs, December 12 LMTs and in January 2019 3 LMTs totalling 34 Lakh Metric Tons. The Commissioner also asked the officials concerned to set up basic facilities at paddy procurement centers. He said the farmers should be made aware of standards of Central government in bringing paddy to purchase centers. Depending upon the climate, Joint Collectors should make plans at ground level about the expectation of yield and should make preparations to set up purchase centers. He also asked the officials to make plans to open PPCs for purchase of at least 500 MTs to 1000 MTs, with at least 5KMs distance from each other. PPCs should be equipped with moisture meters, paddy cleaners, winnowing machines, electronic weighing machines and basic facilities like providing drinking water and wash rooms to the farmers.
Akun Sabharwal also asked the officials to constitute a District Procurement Committee (DPC) with the Collector (CS) as chairman and other members of the committee shall include DCSO, DM-CSC, AD-Marketing, officials of RTA and Agriculture Dept, AM-FCI and HODs of procuring agencies(IKP, PACS, ITDA, DCMS etc).
Increase in Support Price is as follows: ‘A’ grade per quintal Rs. 1770, Common Type per quintal Rs. 1750. This year, Minimum support price has been increase from Rs 1550 to Rs. 1750 for common type and Rs. 1590 to Rs. 1440 for ‘A’ grade. Farmers must compulsorily be paid minimum support and involvement of middlemen should be removed.
Training must be given to IKP, PACS, Civil Supplies, FCI technical staff on procurement before the establishment of purchasing centers. Meetings should be
conducted at district level to declare Kharif Action Plan under Joint Collectors guidance.
Toll-free numbers 180042500333 and 1967 are established at the Commissionerate of Civil Supplies, Civil Supplies Bhavan, for making any complaints on MSP and on distribution of PDS rice for immediate redressal. District level Toll Free numbers also should be set up. Joint Collectors, Officials should focus mainly on storage space, gunny bags, transportation of paddy and CMR allotment. Guidelines for hiring godowns Government Godowns should be hired on priority for storage of Custom Milling Rice (CMR) from millers. After that CWC, SWC, AMC should be hired. Private godowns should be hired only in case of non availability of government godowns. (NSS)