Chandigarh, 25 September:- Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that farmers of Haryana would be assured a payment of Rs 2,900 per quintal for millet under the Bhavantar Bharpai Scheme. He directed officials to strictly prevent attempts to bring millet from other states and sell it in Haryana.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini gave these directions while chairing a review meeting on Friday regarding the procurement of millet and paddy. He also issued necessary directions to officials regarding area verification under Meri Fasal-Mera Byora, registration of rice millers, arrangements required in mandis for procurement of millet and paddy, and setting up additional procurement centres as per requirement. Minister of State for Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rajesh Nagar and Chief Minister's OSD Virender Bar Khalsa were also present at the meeting.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that last year, the government had fixed rates of Rs 2,150 and later Rs 2,200 for millet procurement. The difference between the procurement price offered by the government and arhtiyas and the MSP of Rs 2,900 was separately compensated by the government. This year, millet is being sold in the open market at an average rate of Rs 2,235 per quintal.
The Chief Minister said that the government would ensure that Haryana farmers receive the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,900 per quintal for millet. He said that this time the government would procure millet at Rs 2,300 per quintal. If farmers get a higher price than this in the open market, the difference between the sale price and the minimum support price of Rs 2,900 would be compensated by the government.
The Chief Minister said that millet is sold at a much lower price in neighbouring states than in Haryana, and therefore strict action would be taken against attempts to bring millet from neighbouring states into Haryana for sale. He said that with the assistance of the district administration and police, it should be ensured at the borders of neighbouring states that millet from other states is not allowed to enter Haryana. He said that procurement of millet and payment under the Bhavantar Bharpai Scheme would be ensured on the basis of records entered in Meri Fasal-Mera Byora and the J-Forms issued. He also directed officials to undertake area verification on priority.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also reviewed the arrangements being made for paddy procurement. He said that rice millers should be registered in all districts. Rice millers who had previously been found involved in irregularities would not be registered. He said that in districts where fewer rice millers are registered, paddy from those districts would be allocated to rice millers in other districts. The Chief Minister also directed officials to explore the possibility of registering rice millers from other states, if required.
The Chief Minister said that all necessary arrangements in mandis for the procurement of millet and paddy should be completed on time so that farmers do not face any inconvenience. He also reviewed the installation of cameras and other equipment in all grain markets, geo-fencing, establishment of additional procurement centres as required, and facilities being provided to farmers, and issued necessary directions to officials in this regard.
Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Arun Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture Department Vijender Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Food and Supplies Department Amneet P Kumar, Director Anshaj Singh and Deputy Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Yashpal Singh, among other officials, were also present on the occasion.
