Patna,(BiharTimes): The Bihar government has squarely blamed the Centre for the shortfall in the paddy procurement in the state in this kharif season.It also criticised the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry for not releasing Rs 2,105 crore to Bihar in lieu of food-grains procured from farmers.
Against the target of 30 lakh metric tonnes to be procured till March 31, the state could get only 19.5 metric lakh tonnes.

State food minister Shyam Rajak, while speaking in the state Assembly on Monday, blamed the Centre for giving inadequate time for collecting the targetted 30 lakh tonnes of grain. According to him normally the Centre gives four months to the states for paddy procurement, but this year it initially gave only two months and the first deadline expired on January 31. The target could not be achieved during this time due to high moisture.

He said the Centre extended the deadline for paddy procurement thrice on requests by the state, but the delay to grant extension disrupted procurement by Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) and State Food Corporation (STF).The minister charged the Centre with playing politics over paddy procurement issue. Buttressing his argument he said the Centre had sent a letter on April 9 extending the deadline till April 15. By that date the state agencies had wound up procurement centres.