Presiding over a review meeting at his official residence, Kumar took a dim view of procurement of only 2.49 lakh metric tonnes paddy till date as against the 30 lakh metric tonne target and directed the officials to set up procurement centres at all places where they are yet to come up, an official release said.
He told officials the credit limit of Primary Agriculture Co-operative Societies (PACSes) should be increased so that these cooperatives could procure more paddy from the farmers.
The Principal Secretary (Food and Consumer Protection) Shishir Sinha informed the chief minister that the State Food Corporation would be asked to clear its outstanding dues to the cooperative department and the money could be used for raising the credit limit of PACSes.
Food and Consumer Protection Minister Shyam Rajak, Cooperative Minister Ramadhar Singh, Chief Secretary A.K. Sinha and other senior officials were present at the meeting.
