DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said that the state government is firmly committed for procuring every single grain of the farmers in the grain markets (Mandis).

The Chief Minister, during a meeting to review the paddy procurements in the state, said that the state government has already made elaborate arrangements for purchasing the golden harvest of the farmers as soon as it arrives in the Mandis.

He said that a viable mechanism has been evolved to ensure on the spot payment to the farmers in their bank accounts. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that smooth and hassle free procurement of grains is being ensured in the market so that farmers don't face any sort of inconvenience.

The Chief Minister said that all out efforts have been made to ensure smooth, hassle free and quick procurement of Paddy on one hand and facilitate the farmers in getting timely payment of their produce on the other. He categorically said that farmers of the state should not be put to any inconvenience for the sale of their produce in the mandis. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is duty bound to ensure that every golden grain of the farmers is procured and lifted immediately.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Punjab Rice Millers association called on the Chief Minister on the sidelines of the meeting. During meeting with the association, Bhagwant Singh Mann assured them that the state government will flag their issue with the union government. He said that the state government is duty bound to protect the interests of every section of the society.

The Chief Minister also raised the issue with Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister telephonically and sought his intervention to sort out the matter. He asked the Union Minister direct the FCI to create sufficient space for delivery of rice, so that procurement of paddy/rice of KMS 24-25 is carried out seamlessly in the State.

Vehemently raising g he issue of serious lack of delivery space with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Chief Minister bemoaned that there is serious space crunch with FCI especially since May onwards which has hampered the delivery of rice of KMS 2023-24 by rice millers of the State to FCI in the Central Pool. He further said that it has also led to an apprehension amongst the rice millers of the State about the space crunch during the ensuing Kharif Season 2024-25.

Meanwhile, the Union government has granted Government of Punjab, authorisation of Cash Credit Limit of Rs 41,339.81 crore (Rupees Forty-One Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-Nine Crore Eighty-One Lakh Only for procurement of paddy up to end-October 2024 in KMS 2024-25.
(editor@dailyworld.in)