Will not fix target for paddy procurement, says Bihar govt

Buoyed by an estimated record 134 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy crop in Bihar this season, the state govenrment today said it has decided not to fix any 'target' for paddy procurement in 2016-17 Kharif Marketing Season.
The government agencies would make all purchases of paddy that reaches its procurement centres across the state.
"For the 2016-17 (Kharif Marketing Season), the government has not fixed any target vis-a-vis paddy procurement in the state. Instead, we will purchase from all those who would come to our procurement centres," Food and Consumer Protection Department's Principal Secretary Deepak Prasad told PTI.
"The decision has been taken keeping in view of an estimated record paddy production of 134 lakh MT in the state this year. Besides, the idea is to procure from all farmers so that they are not subjected to distress selling," Prasad said.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar before whom a presentation was made by the officials with regard to the preparations of paddy procurement.
The CM gave necessary directions to the officials to make transparent the process of paddy procurement, a government release said.

Paddy procurement would begin from November 15 in districts where crops have already been harvested while it would be followed soon in other districts from December, he said.
The procurement would be carried out by Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) and Vyapar Mandals across the state at a Minimum Support Price of Rs 1470 per quintal against last year's MSP of Rs 1410 per quintal.

It may be noted that the government agencies could procure nearly 18.50 lakh MT of paddy against the target of 30 lakh MT of paddy in 2015-16.
The government could procure 12.35 lakh MT and 24.07 lakh MT of paddy against the target of 30 lakh MT in 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively.