Tripura government initiates paddy purchase at subsidized rate from state farmers

 AGARTALA: The Department of Food Public Procurement and Consumer Affairs and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department of Tripura initiated the process to purchase paddy produced during the current Kharif season at the minimum support price of Rs 2183 per quintal from the state farmers. For the convenience of the farmers of Jirania Mahakumar at the Inter State Truck Terminus at Madhavbari, Minister of Food Public Storage and Consumer Affairs Sushant Chowdhury, inaugurated the paddy purchase centre at subsidized prices on Wednesday.

The event was enlightened by, Raval Hemendra Kumar, Special Secretary, (Food and Public Procurement Department), Director Nirmal Adhikari, (Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department) Director Sharadindu Das, Jiraniya Nagar Panchayat Chairperson Ratan Das, prominent philanthropist Gaurang Bhowmik and other intellectuals.

Chowdhury said that after the establishment of the BJP government in 2018, the state government is trying to double the income of farmers. The previous government has cheated the farmers for 25 years. The state government is working to develop modern agricultural infrastructure in every agricultural subdivision. So that farmers can increase their income.

He also said that farmers get a much higher price than what they get by selling paddy in the open market at the government paddy buying centre. The government is trying to ensure that only farmers get this benefit. The government is procuring paddy from farmers at the rate of Rs 2183 per quintal. This year the state government has set a target of purchasing 50,000 metric tonnes of paddy from farmers.

Chowdhury further mocked the opposition and said that during their time the only demand was that the government should buy rice from the farmers. And they used to march. However, after the establishment of the current government in 2018, the decision to purchase farmers’ wealth was taken in the first cabinet meeting and was quickly implemented. The minister said that the government’s target for rice purchase by farmers is increasing day by day.

He said in his speech that Chief Minister Manik Saha is always sympathetic to the farmers of our state. Following his instructions, the work of buying paddy from the farmers at government-subsidized prices has started again. “Farmers get a much higher price from the government paddy buying centre than what they get for selling paddy in the open market. Our farmer-friendly government is trying to ensure that only farmers get this benefit,” Chowdhury added.

The Minister also requested the farmers of the state to contact the nearest agriculture department or sub-divisional governor’s office to sell their paddy and take advantage of selling paddy at the minimum subsidized price. Necessary measures will be taken to ensure that all farmers can sell a specified quantity of paddy at government-subsidized prices. (ANI)

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