On the instructions of CM Yogi, farmers being paid within 48 hours, till now 543 crores paid
Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, speaks during a news conference in Lucknow, India, on Friday, March 19, 2021. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party faces a slew of provincial elections this year and next, including in key Uttar Pradesh state, which sends the largest number of lawmakers to the parliament. Photographer: T. Narayan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Lucknow| In Uttar Pradesh, more than 2.86 lakh metric tonnes of paddy has been procured so far by agencies under Kharif purchasing year 2024-25. In the year 2023-24, till 13 November, 2.20 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was procured by the agencies, that is, 65,820 metric tonnes more paddy has been procured this year. Rs 543 crore has also been paid to the farmers so far.
On the instructions of CM Yogi Adityanath, top officials of the districts and food and logistics department are also regularly inspecting the purchasing centres. On the instructions of the CM, farmers are also being paid within 48 hours. At present paddy is being purchased rapidly. There was procurement of 2.20 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in the period of 13 November from 2023-24 last year by Food Department, PCF, UPSS, UPPCU, Mandi Parishad and Central Agency Food Corporation of India agencies, which has increased by 65,820 metric tonnes this year to more than 2.86 lakh metric tonnes
There have been purchases from 42,845 farmers this year, compared with 35,863 farmers as of last year. Last week, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a review meeting regarding paddy procurement at his official residence. While directing to maintain promptness and transparency in paddy procurement, he had said that farmers should be paid within 48 hours in any case. It should also be reviewed regularly. Rs 543 crore has also been paid to farmers so far this year.
CM had instructed the officers that basic facilities like seating, shade, drinking water etc. of farmers should also be available at the purchasing centres. Following the instructions of the CM, regular inspection of purchasing centers is being done by the local administration and food-logistics department. It is also being monitored from the headquarters. Paddy procurement started in western Uttar Pradesh from 1st October, which will run till 31st January 2025. During this period, paddy is also being purchased in Hardoi, Sitapur and Lakhimpur Kheri of Bareilly, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Meerut, Jhansi and Lucknow divisions.
At the same time, paddy procurement started in eastern Uttar Pradesh from 1st November, which will continue till 28th February. During this period, procurement is going on smoothly in Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Basti, Devipatan, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Vindhyachal, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Chitrakoot and Lucknow, Rae Bareli and Unnao districts of Lucknow division. The government has fixed the support price of paddy at Rs 2,300 and grade A at Rs 2,320 per quintal. Farmers are also being reimbursed at the rate of Rs 20 per quintal for unloading, sifting and cleaning paddy.
A total of 4,160 purchasing centres of the Food-Logistics Department and other purchasing agencies have been earmarked for the sale of paddy by farmers in all the districts of Uttar Pradesh. Purchasing centres operating from 9 am to 5 pm. This year, paddy is also being sold by sharecropper farmers by getting registration and renewal done.
To ensure that farmers do not face any kind of problem, toll free number 18001800150 has been issued. Farmers can get help by contacting this. Apart from this, they can also contact the Food Marketing Officer of the districts, Regional Marketing Officer of the tehsil and Marketing Inspector of the block and make problems and complaints.
