In Punjab, the purchase of 182.10 lakh metric tons of paddy will be made from farmers

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann formally commenced state-wide procurement with a target of purchasing 182.10 lakh metric tons of paddy. He also directed the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs to ensure a smooth and hassle-free procurement process. Speaking to the farmers, the Chief Minister said, 'We are committed to procuring every grain from the farmers, and it is a record that procurement has started on the very first day, which has never happened in the state's history.'

Mann reiterated the need to discontinue the cultivation of Pusa-44 and other related varieties of rice, as the state government has already decided to impose a ban on these varieties from the next season due to their high water consumption and excellent straw management. He mentioned that the use of technology like GPS in trucks will resolve issues related to lifting. Mann also initiated the digital payment system, starting with the first payment made to a farmer by pressing a button. The Chief Minister stated that compensation for flood damage has begun, and the government will compensate for every penny of loss. He assured that the state disaster fund has sufficient funds for compensating flood-related losses.

He mentioned that Punjab has already received a cash credit limit of Rs 37,000 crore for the rice season before the commencement of paddy procurement. While urging farmers to stop the practice of burning crop residues, Mann said that new equipment is being provided to farmers for in-situ and ex-situ management of crop residues. He also highlighted that the government has mandated brick kilns and other industries to purchase crop residues from farmers to use them as fuel. Mann demanded a beneficial solution from the central government to stop the practice of burning crop residues and emphasized the efforts of the state government, which has led to a 21% increase in the cultivation area of Basmati rice. The Government of India had fixed a minimum support price of Rs 2,203 per quintal for the Kharif marketing season."