Punjab News FCI to give agents a miss, will procure paddy directly...

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Gurdaspur October 2:

Despite the Punjab Government’s instructions to procure paddy from farmers through commission agents, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) authorities have initiated the process of procuring paddy directly from farmers.

Also, the FCI, for the first time, will be crediting payments accruing to farmers directly to their bank accounts. Although paddy procurement by various state government agencies commenced today, sources disclosed that because of the high moisture content of paddy, which will be brought to the markets in the few days, the FCI will not be procuring the stocks as of now. However, when moisture comes down to 17 per cent after a fortnight, the FCI will start its process of procurement.

The Punjab Government’s Agriculture Produce Marketing Act states that paddy will be procured from farmers only through commission agents. However, the FCI authorities claim that they will be procuring paddy directly from farmers in an attempt to ensure that these farmers do no fall into the “vicious trap of commission agents”. Last year too, the FCI had made such arrangements but the Union Agriculture Minister, apparently acting under pressure from the state government, kept the circular under abeyance for one year.

As many as 15 grain markets have been allocated to the Gurdaspur FCI unit by the Director, Food and Civil Supplies. All these 15 markets have been linked to storage points located at Gurdaspur, Batala, Dhariwal, Dinanagar and Pathankot. Arrangements have been made at each of these markets to ensure that procurement through direct payment mode is a hassle-free process. Nahar Singh, area manager, Gurdaspur FCI, said, “It is for the first time in the state that paddy will be procured directly. That is why we have to ensure that farmers do not face any problems.

We have decided to pay directly to farmers within 48 hours of buying the crop. Under the new payment system, the FCI has roped in several banks and farmers have been told to open accounts in these banks.” Mandi Labour Contractors (MLC), who are responsible for loading paddy stocks into trucks, and Mandi Transport Contractors (MTC), who will be transporting stocks from grain markets to various storage points in the district, have been stationed at all the 15 markets. A quality inspector would oversee purchase paddy at each of the markets. Nearly 80,000 tonnes is expected to be procured by the FCI from all the 15 mandis allotted to it at the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,080 for common variety and Rs 1,110 for grade A variety.

 
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