Punjab hopes to procure 200 lakh metric tonne paddy

CHANDUGARH: Punjab is hoping to procure 200 lakh metric tonne of paddy during the Kharif marketing season starting tomorrow with necessary arrangements having been made for their smooth and hassle free procurement, officials said.nnPunjab food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu Sunday directed the heads of the state procurements agencies as well as FCI to personally supervise the operations across the state so as to ensure prompt lifting of paddy, according to an official spokesman.nnAs many as 1,834 purchase centres have been set up across the state for procurement of the crop.nnReviewing the arrangements, Ashu said all out efforts should be made to ensure smooth, hassle free and quick procurement of paddy on the one hand and facilitating the farmers in getting timely payment of their produce on the other.nnHe made it clear that farmers of the state should not be put to any inconvenience while selling their produce in the mandis.nnHe issued directions for good quality sturdy gunny bales while packing the produce and also there was no shortage of bales for storage of grains.nnAshu asked the officers concerned to personally visit the mandis during the procurement and ensure smooth lifting.nnThe Government of India has fixed Minimum Support Price for paddy at Rs 1,770 per quintal for Grade A and Rs 1,750 per quintal for common variety of paddy.nnThe proposal regarding cash credit limit has been sent by the finance department to RBI for availing CCL limit of Rs 40,300 crore for the purchase of paddy by the state agencies, officials said.nnAshu made a fervent appeal to all farmers to bring dry, clean and fully matured paddy to the mandis.nnSource: Press Trust of India