Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has come into action mode after being discharged from the hospital. He held a meeting yesterday and now has called a meeting again today at 1 pm. A big decision can be taken in this meeting regarding stubble management, which will directly benefit the farmers.
According to the information, due to the paddy season in the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has called a special meeting of officials regarding the management of stubble, in which the stubble management will be reviewed.
Target of purchasing 185 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in Punjab
In the meeting held yesterday, the Chief Minister said that the state government is expected to bring 185 lakh metric tonnes of paddy to the mandis by the farmers during the procurement season starting from October 1. He also said that this time paddy has been cultivated in 32 lakh hectares of area in the state. He told that the target is to purchase 185 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in Punjab. Rs 41,378 crore has already been released by the Reserve Bank of India for the Kharif marketing season 2024-25.
A grade paddy for this season
The Chief Minister said that the Government of India has fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2320 per quintal for A grade paddy for this season. He said that the state procurement agencies like Pangrain, Markfed, Punsup, PSWC and FCI will procure paddy at the minimum support price as per the parameters prescribed by the Government of India. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that all preparations have been completed for seamless and smooth procurement of paddy. He said that the state government is committed to seamless procurement and lifting of paddy.
Farmers will not have to face difficulty - CM Mann
The Chief Minister said that the state government has already made foolproof arrangements to buy the farmers' crop as soon as it reaches the mandis. He said that proper arrangements have been developed to ensure timely payment to the farmers in their bank accounts. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that arrangements have been made to ensure uninterrupted procurement of grains in the Mandis so that the farmers do not face any kind of difficulty.
The Chief Minister said that every effort is being made to ensure uninterrupted, smooth and speedy procurement of paddy. Also, clear instructions have been issued to ensure timely payment to the farmers of their produce. He said in clear terms that the farmers of the state should not face any kind of difficulty in selling their produce in the Mandis. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed to ensure prompt procurement and payment of every grain of the farmers.
The Chief Minister also asked the Deputy Commissioners to ensure smooth procurement process of paddy in the Mandis as well as prompt payment of the crop in their respective districts. He said in clear terms that any kind of negligence or laxity in discharging this responsibility will not be tolerated. He said that for the convenience of the farmers, it is necessary to ensure prompt procurement and payment of their crop. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab Government is committed to smooth and uninterrupted procurement of paddy and it is the duty of the officers to ensure that the decision of the government is implemented in true sense.
Daily report of grain markets will be presented
The Chief Minister also asked the Deputy Commissioners to visit 7-8 mandis daily to take stock of the entire work at the ground level. He said that the officers should regularly visit the grain markets falling under their jurisdiction and submit a daily report for continuous monitoring. Bhagwant Singh Mann also asked the officers to keep a close watch on the procurement operations so that there is no pile of crop in the mandis and its lifting can be ensured as soon as possible.
Big relief given to rice mill owners
During this, the Chief Minister, in an important decision, gave a big relief to the rice mill owners and said that 750 mill owners who applied first for the allocation of custom milling for the procurement season 2024-25 would be allotted 25 percent more paddy than the paddy allotted as per the policy.