NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday assured the Punjab govt that it would procure the entire approved 184 lakh tonne of paddy, equivalent to 124 lakh tonne of rice, this year without any restrictions.
Hours after meeting Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann , Union food minister Pralhad Joshi , in a social media post, said he had extended the Centre's support to address issues related to paddy procurement by agreeing to procure the entire stock of approved paddy.
After meeting Joshi, Mann said he raised the challenges faced in procurement of paddy and concerns of rice millers and arhtiyas (commission agents). "He assured me that he will consider these issues promptly and work towards finding solutions," the CM said. He also raised the demand for restoration of arhtiya commission at 2.5% of minimum support price .
"At present, there is 1.5 lakh metric tonne to 2 lakh metric tonne of paddy arriving every day at Punjab mandis. In the next 2-4 days, this number is expected to rise to 10 lakh metric tonne per day. Punjab is poised to contribute an impressive 180 lakh metric tonne of paddy to the nation's grain storage," the chief minister said.
The assurance from the Centre has come as a big relief to millers and arhtiyas. Sources said that Mann informed Union minister Joshi that due to the persistent shortage of storage space during the previous season and the availability of only about seven lakh tonne storage space, there is resentment among rice millers for carrying out milling.
"Joshi agreed to transport 120 lakh tonne of paddy from the state by March," said a source.
Hours after meeting Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann , Union food minister Pralhad Joshi , in a social media post, said he had extended the Centre's support to address issues related to paddy procurement by agreeing to procure the entire stock of approved paddy.
After meeting Joshi, Mann said he raised the challenges faced in procurement of paddy and concerns of rice millers and arhtiyas (commission agents). "He assured me that he will consider these issues promptly and work towards finding solutions," the CM said. He also raised the demand for restoration of arhtiya commission at 2.5% of minimum support price .
"At present, there is 1.5 lakh metric tonne to 2 lakh metric tonne of paddy arriving every day at Punjab mandis. In the next 2-4 days, this number is expected to rise to 10 lakh metric tonne per day. Punjab is poised to contribute an impressive 180 lakh metric tonne of paddy to the nation's grain storage," the chief minister said.
The assurance from the Centre has come as a big relief to millers and arhtiyas. Sources said that Mann informed Union minister Joshi that due to the persistent shortage of storage space during the previous season and the availability of only about seven lakh tonne storage space, there is resentment among rice millers for carrying out milling.
"Joshi agreed to transport 120 lakh tonne of paddy from the state by March," said a source.
