In a move aimed at continuing support to farmers and ensuring fair prices for their produce, the Tripura government announced a paddy procurement drive targeting 15,000 metric tonnes (MT) during the ongoing Rabi season. The paddy will be purchased at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 21.83 per kilogram.
Food Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, addressing a press conference at the Civil Secretariat on Monday, revealed the details of the initiative.
The procurement process will commence on June 15 across 31 places situated within six districts of the state – West Tripura, Sepahijala, Khowai, Dhalai, South Tripura, and Gomati districts.
Chowdhury said, the official inauguration of the paddy procurement drive will be held at Jolaibari in South Tripura district. This initiative signifies the Tripura government’s ongoing commitment to supporting farmers.
Since coming to power in 2018, the government has implemented a program to procure paddy at MSP twice a year – during both Kharif and Rabi seasons, the Minister pointed out.
Highlighting the success of previous procurement drives, Chowdhury informed the media that a total of 1,92,052 MT of paddy had been procured from over 1,00,309 farmers since 2018. This program resulted in a benefit of Rs. 372 crore being distributed amongst the participating farmers.
The Minister emphasized that the core objectives of this program are to double the income of farmers and ensure they receive a fair price for their crops. This, in turn, will strengthen the economic foundation of the farming community in Tripura.
In a bid to further streamline the paddy procurement process, the Food Department has procured five new trucks at a cost of Rs. 1.86 crore, the Minister told the media. These trucks will be officially flagged off at the Central Store located in Agartala’s AD Nagar area on Tuesday.
Expressing confidence in the success of the paddy procurement drive, he urged farmers across the state to actively participate in the program. He said, the virtual meeting held earlier with officials from various departments underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and efficient procurement process.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
