Patna, Oct 31: Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi on Thursday said that the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACSs) and Mandals will start paddy procurement in the state from November 15.
He said that this year the state government will buy dried paddy and so driers have been installed at 61 procurement centres in the state to dry the paddy brought for sale by farmers.
Earlier this year the Centre raised the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy, a key kharif crop, by 3.7 per cent from Rs 1,750 to Rs 1,815 per quintal for the 2019-20 crop season. The MSP for paddy (grade A) saw an increase of Rs 65 per quintal.
Modi said the target for paddy procurement has been more than doubled to 30 lakh metric tonnes. In the 2018-19 kharif season, 14.44 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been procured.
"Dryer machines have been installed at 61 purchasing centres in the state at a cost of Rs 18 lakh each. Paddy will be dried and procured from farmers even in conditions of excess moisture. Earlier, after receiving rice, it used to take months to pay the Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperation Committee (PACS), while this year the State Food Corporation has been ordered to pay farmers within three days and within 48 hours of paddy purchase", said the state's Deputy CM.
"Orders have also been issued for the instalment of driers at 37 other procurement centres by December", he added.
