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Chandigarh: Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak held a review meeting with top officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and the Police Department and directed to deploy teams at the inter-state borders to check illegal recycling from outside the state during the upcoming monsoon season. To coordinate with the state government to prevent paddy, rice from entering Punjab and avoid fake billing of paddy.
Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements made regarding paddy procurement, the Minister said that the state government is fully prepared to ensure smooth procurement of farmers' crops. The minister asked the higher authorities to consider all the legitimate issues of rice mill owners in the state, including the issue of shortage of space in the Food Corporation of India (FCI). It is noteworthy that the state government has already raised the issue of shortage of FCI space with the central government.
During the meeting, Principal Secretary Food Development Garg told the Minister that in response to the state government's demand for adequate space for delivery of rice for the saffron marketing season 2024-25, the Union Ministry has written to create space for 40 lakh . metric tons of paddy by December 2024. He has also assured to take 15 lakh metric tonnes of rice/paddy from the state by the end of October.
The Minister directed the Department to ensure close coordination with FCI and DFPD, Government of India regarding stock movement so as to create adequate space for delivery of rice for the Saffron Marketing Season 2024-25. The minister said the reduction in export duty for rice exports by the Indian government will help in making room for food grains.
Let us tell you that during the season starting from October 1, 185 lakh metric tonnes of paddy brought from farmers is expected to be purchased in the mandis of the state.
The area under paddy cultivation in the state is 32 lakh hectares, due to which the Punjab government has set a target of purchasing 185 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. Towards this target, RBI has already released a cash credit limit (CCL) of Rs 41,378 crore for the Kharif season 2024-25.
The Government of India has fixed the minimum support price for Grade 'A' paddy at Rs 2320 per quintal this season. The four procurement agencies of the state namely Pangrain, Markfed, Pansup, PSWC and the central procurement agency FCI will procure paddy at the minimum support price as per the norms prescribed by the Government of India.
