Monday, March 26, 2018

Haryanan ready to procure 80 lakh tonnes of wheat at MSP

Chandigarh, March 26
 Haryana Government has made all the arrangements for the procurement of 80 lakh tonnes of wheat at the minimum support price of Rs 1735 per quintal for the current Rabi season 2018 as compared to 74.25 lakh quintal tonnes of wheat procured at the minimum support price of Rs 1625 during last rabi season. Each and every grain of wheat crop produced by farmers will be procured in the state. The Agriculture Department has estimated the production of about 117.80 lakh tonnes of wheat in the state for Rabi 2018.
            This was informed by Additional Chief Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Mr Ram Niwas while addressing a press conference here today. Through Finance Department, Rs 4900 crore have been made available from RBI for procurement, he added.  
            Detailing about the arrangements, he said that all the 383 mandis of the state already stand allotted to various procurement agencies for the smooth procurement operations and for the convenience of the farmers. As many as 266370 gunny bales have already been made available at the district level by March 25, 2018. For the procurement of current rabi season, about 41 lakh metric tonnes storage facility is available and applications have been invited from private firms for making more storage available. Almost all labour and transport contractors have been appointed in the mandis till date.
            The Government has made all the funds available to procure wheat of farmers and they would be paid within 48 to 72 hours of procurement. 
            He said that necessary arrangements of water, resting place and toilets have been made in the mandis. Deputy Commissioners have been directed to inspect mandis before the start of procurement to oversee and ensure all arrangements are in place and avoid any inconvenience to the farmers.
            He said that Food Corporation of India will procure 12 per cent of wheat and the rest 88 per cent will be procured by State Procurement Agencies.  Hafed will procure 40 per cent of wheat, Food and Supplies 33 per cent, Haryana Warehousing Corporation, 15 per cent and Food Corporation of India 12 per cent.   
            He said that the guidelines and directions and procurement policy have been issued to all Deputy Commissioners, Managing Directors of all Procurement Agencies and District Controllers. The wheat will be procured with a moisture content of 12 per cent as per parameters issued for the procurement by Government of India.  Following the parameters, the farmers have also been appealed to bring wheat with moisture content of 12 per cent for easy procurement process.  
            The Additional Chief Secretary said that the State Government has given the indent of 2,96,680  gunny bales to Jute Commissioner through Government of India.  As of March 25, 2018 as many as 266370 gunny bales have already been made available at the district level. The State Government is in the possession of about 20 thousand plastic bales which would be utilised after the approval of Government of India. There was no shortage of bags for the procurement process, he assured.
            He said that the total storage capacity of 81.20 lakh metric tonnes of the Food Corporation of India and the State Procurement agencies is available in the state.  However, about 40 lakh metric tonnes is already occupied by crop of rice and wheat and for the procurement of current rabi season, about 41 lakh metric tonnes storage facility is available.  Apart from this, about ten lakh metric tonnes wheat will be sent to other states. The State Government has also invited applications for renting private godowns and plinths. As many as 41 godown owners have applied for renting out their godowns and plinths.  
            He said that elaborate arrangements have been made of wooden planks, polythene covers and other materials needed for procurement of wheat. Bringing complete transparency in the system, it was for the first time that e-tenders were floated for the appointment of labour and transport contractors in the mandis and almost all have been appointed till date.
             He said that all the Deputy Commissioners have been directed to inspect mandis before the start of procurement to oversee and ensure all arrangements are in place and avoid any inconvenience to the farmers.  The Superintendents of Police have also been directed to depute additional teams for ensuring safety and security of mandis and for traffic control.
             Informing about the arrangements of funds for the procurement, he said that through Finance Department, Rs 4900 crore have been made available from RBI.  The Government has all the funds available to procure wheat of farmers and they would be paid within 48 to 72 hours of procurement.
             He said that it would be the responsibility of Deputy Commissioners and Procurement Agencies to make sure that all the wheat is procured on Minimum Support Price. Necessary arrangements of water, resting place and toilets have been made in the mandis and Secretary, Mandi Committees have been given clear directions that farmers should not face any difficulty in selling their produce.  They will ensure lifting of wheat in a prescribed time frame and make timely payment to farmers so as to avoid any traffic jam in mandis. Senior officers are deputed in the mandis so that the farmers’ grievances, if any, could be redressed on the spot.

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