Hoshiarpur/Daljit Ajnoha:- Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain today reviewed the ongoing paddy procurement in the district’s mandis and appealed to farmers to give priority to bringing dry paddy with prescribed moisture levels to the mandis so that their crop could be procured in the shortest possible time.
Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that 65 mandis had been established in the district for the convenience of farmers, where paddy procurement had commenced from October 1. All necessary arrangements had been ensured keeping in view the interests of farmers, commission agents and labourers. She said that so far, 17,772 metric tonnes of paddy had arrived in the district’s mandis, of which 14,867 metric tonnes had been procured, and Rs 4.85 crore had been paid into farmers’ accounts. She said that almost all arrangements in the mandis had been completed and the supply of gunny bags had been ensured as per requirement so that the crop could be lifted within the prescribed time.
Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that the maximum permissible moisture content in paddy during this season had been fixed at 17 per cent, which farmers should pay special attention to. She said that around 4.15 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was expected to arrive in the district’s mandis during the season, in view of which elaborate arrangements had been made. She said that officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department were regularly reviewing arrangements in the mandis so that farmers, commission agents and labourers did not face any inconvenience.
She said that the procurement agencies included Markfed, PUNGRAIN, Punsup, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation and FCI, which would procure the farmers’ crop. It is noteworthy that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy for this season had been fixed at Rs 2,461 per quintal. She said that payment would be made within the prescribed period within 24 hours of procurement of the farmers’ crop, along with immediate lifting.
The Deputy Commissioner said that harvesting of paddy with combines had been prohibited in the district from 6 PM to 10 AM and that the restriction would be strictly enforced.
