By our correspondent
Agartala, January 25, 2019: Chief Minister Biplab kumar Deb today urged the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan to extend Paddy procurement period and increase quantity to be procured from existing 10,000MT to 30,000MT.
In a letter to Paswan, the Chief Minister wrote, Paddy Procurement process is going on in full swing since December 15, 2018 scheduled to continue up to February 15, 2019 with a base target of 10,000 MT.
“So far reports received from the field, it is likely that the target of 10,000 MT may exceed shortly and may go up to 30,000 MT, provided farmers of the uncovered areas are given scope to sell their produce in this procurement drive”, the letter said.
Farmers of the State are participating in the procurement initiative with great enthusiasm. In view of appreciations from the farming community, the State Government urged the Union Minister to extend the deadline of paddy procurement and also make necessary arrangements for procuring 30,000MT.
Chief Minister said, “I would request you to kindly advise the Ministry for extending the procurement period for another one month beyond 15th February, 2019 with a revised target of 30,000 MT for KMS: 2018-19. Besides, FCI may be advised suitably to strengthen their technical manpower / resources so that more number of Procurement Centres could be operated simultaneously within a short span of time for greater interest of the farmers of the State”.
