STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The State government assured the farmers that it would procure ten lakh MT of paddy from them in the 2021-22 Kharif marketing season at an MSP (Minimum Support Price) of Rs 1,940 per quintal. However, till June this year (first crop), various agencies could procure around 40 per cent of the target. And it is a good question 'if the procuring agencies can meet the target in the remaining two months – July and September (second crop).
The Government set the paddy procurement target of around seven lakh MT for the six paddy-procuring agencies. Paddy procurement in the state is very slow. Till June, the six agencies procured only 4,33,810 MT of paddy from the state farmers in this Kharif marketing season (first crop).
The procurement of the second crop is from July to September. How much paddy the agencies can procure in the remaining two months is something to keep tabs on.
In mid-January, the State Government carried out an awareness drive for paddy procurement from the state farmers through meetings at the panchayat areas. However, till June, only 41,290 farmers of the state could sell paddy to the government agencies at the fixed MSP.
The six government-entrusted paddy-procuring agencies are AFCSCL (Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd), ASAMB (Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board), FCI (Food Corporation of India), NACOF National Federation of Farmers' Procurement, Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India Ltd. (NACOF), NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India).
Till June, AFCSCL procured 1,58,998 MT against the target of 1,61,950 MT; ASAMB procured 3,450 MT against the target of 3,600; FCI procured 2,06,692 MT against the target of 5,62,500 MT; NACOF procured 10,461 MT against the target of 33,500 MT; NAFED procured 48,391 MT against the target of 1,40,900 MT; and NCCF procured 5,796 MT against the target of 19,500 MT.
The district-wise break-up of the number of farmers who sold their paddy at MSP is – 1,001 in Bajali; 1,132 in Baksa; 675 in Barpeta; 427 in Biswanath; 692 in Borgaigaon; 197 in Cachar; 465 in Charaideo; 298 in Chirang; 2,700 in Darrang; 1,445 in Dhemaji; 4,908 in Dhubri; 988 in Dibrugarh; 743 in Goalpara; 1,182 in Golaghat; 168 in Hailakandi; 7,156 in Hojai; 714 in Jorhat; 896 in Kamrup (M); 1,049 in Kamrup; 3,100 Karbi Anglong; 194 in Karimganj; 82 in Kokrajhar; 1,877 in Lakhimpur; 209 in Majuli; 3,312 Morigaon; 6,625 in Nagaon; 1,776 in Nalbari; 467 in Sivasagar; 1,690 in Sonitpur; 25 in South Salmara; 526 in Tinsukia; 689 in Udalguri and 519 in West Karbi Anglong.
According to standing rules, the farmers need to produce their land patta along with their voter IDs, Aadhaar Cards and bank accounts while selling paddy to the procuring agencies at the MSP. The State Government, however, made it easier for the farmers by allowing certificates from the laat Mandals or gaonburhas. Unlike other paddy procuring agencies, FCI refused to accept such certificates, leading to poor procurement of paddy.
These six agencies procure paddy from 184 PPCs (paddy procurement centres) in the state. These agencies can procure paddy till September this year. Since paddy procurement in January and February was slow, a question hangs in the air if the six agencies can meet their respective targets.
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