MSP procurement of kharif paddy begins immediately in Punjab and Haryana: Centre

Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 26

The Centre on Saturday advanced paddy procurement in Haryana and Punjab due to the early arrival of paddy this year.

In its order issued today, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has allowed procurement of paddy in the two states from today instead of the earlier announced schedule from October 1.

The order says that the step has been taken in view of early arrival of paddy this year.

The Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21 for paddy /rice is already scheduled to commence in all the procuring states from October 1, 2020, and the state procuring agencies, including FCI, are in a state of readiness for smoothly undertaking procurement operations.

However, in view of early arrival of paddy in the ‘mandis’ of Haryana and Punjab, Government of India has approved the commencement of procurement operations for paddy/rice immediately in both these states from today i.e. with effect from 26th September, 2020 to ensure that farmers are facilitated in selling their produce at Minimum Support Price (MSP) expeditiously.

With the Central government allowing Haryana and Punjab to advance procurement of paddy by five days beginning it from Saturday instead of October 1 as announced earlier, the Haryana government has decided to begin purchase of the paddy already arrived in the grain markets from Sunday.

PK Das, Haryana’s Additional Chief Secretary for Food and Civil Supplies Department, said that the government agencies will purchase only the paddy crop which has already arrived in grain markets of the state on Sunday and Monday.

He said that from Tuesday onwards, regular procurement activities for paddy crop will begin.

Das clarified that paddy crop of only those farmers will be procured who have registered it on “Meri Fasal Mera Byora” portal.

He said that the state government had sought permission for advancing the procurement activities in view of early arrivals of the crop and the Centre has acceded to Haryana’s request.

Das said that the government procurement agencies were fully geared up for the procurement starting from tomorrow morning. 

The move is being seen in view of the ongoing strike of farmers against the three controversial agriculture Bills, as the biggest concern farmers have shown during their stir is that they would lose MSP once the new laws are implemented.

The state government has been maintaining that there would be no threat to the MSP.

The Centre, had, however, clarified that the period of milling of paddy would remain unchanged for Kharif Milling Season – 2020-21.