Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has directed officials to ensure the immediate lifting of paddy and bajra procured at mandis across the state, stressing that farmers should not face difficulties in selling their crops.
Chairing a review meeting on the Kharif procurement process in Chandigarh on October 7, the Chief Minister instructed administrative secretaries to visit mandis, inspect arrangements and submit reports on procurement, crop lifting and facilities available to farmers.
Officials informed the meeting that around 5 lakh quintals of paddy had been procured in Haryana so far.
What Directions Did Nayab Singh Saini Give On Paddy Procurement?
Saini directed officials to ensure that crop lifting keeps pace with arrivals at mandis so that stocks do not accumulate unnecessarily.
He stressed that the entire process, from procurement and lifting to payment, should function smoothly.
Administrative secretaries have been asked to visit mandis and assess the ground situation. An HCS-level officer has also been appointed for each mandi to monitor procurement arrangements and address issues affecting farmers.
How Much MSP Will Haryana Farmers Get For Bajra?
The Haryana government has said farmers will receive an effective minimum support price of Rs 2,900 per quintal for bajra this year through its procurement and price-difference compensation mechanism.
The government will procure bajra at Rs 2,300 per quintal. If a farmer sells the crop in the open market at a price above Rs 2,300 per quintal but below the MSP of Rs 2,900, the government will compensate the difference under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana.
The maximum difference between the notified procurement rate and the MSP is Rs 600 per quintal.
How Does The Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana Work?
The Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana is intended to compensate eligible farmers when the market price of a crop falls below its notified MSP.
Under the arrangement outlined at the meeting, Haryana will procure bajra at Rs 2,300 per quintal. Where the applicable market sale price is lower than the Rs 2,900 MSP, the government will provide compensation for the eligible difference, subject to the scheme’s conditions.
Officials informed the meeting that bajra was fetching an average price of around Rs 2,235 per quintal in the open market. Private dealers are also purchasing the crop.
How Much Was Bajra MSP Last Year In Haryana?
Officials said the government had fixed the bajra procurement price at Rs 2,150 per quintal last year before subsequently increasing it to Rs 2,200 per quintal.
The difference between the applicable purchase price and the Rs 2,900 per quintal MSP was compensated separately by the government, including under arrangements involving the government and commission agents.
What Action Has Haryana Taken To Improve Mandi Arrangements?
The Chief Minister has directed senior officials to inspect procurement centres personally and report on the availability of facilities, the pace of crop lifting and other issues faced by farmers.
An HCS-level officer has been assigned to every mandi to oversee the process.
The government has also formed a team of departmental officials to address the issue of paddy purchased last year that remains with certain rice millers.
At the review meeting, officials also discussed a rate of Rs 2,777 per quintal in connection with the arrangements for traders. Further details about the applicability of this rate were not specified in the information released after the meeting.
Who Attended The Procurement Review Meeting?
The meeting was attended by Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Vijayendra Kumar, and Principal Secretary for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Amneet P Kumar, along with other senior officials.
The Chief Minister’s Deputy Principal Secretary, Dr Yashpal, Hafed Managing Director Chandrashekhar Khare and Food and Supplies Director General Dr Anshaj Singh were also present.
The state government has directed officials to ensure that procurement, crop lifting and payments proceed smoothly as arrivals increase at mandis.
