The state government has set a target of purchasing 40,000 metric tonnes of paddy from farmers at MSP during the kharif season. Paddy will be purchased at the rate of 21 rupees 83 paisa per kg. This paddy will be purchased from 49 paddy purchasing centres in the state. Paddy will be purchased from December 11.

A target has been taken to complete the process of purchasing paddy by January 31, 2024. Food Minister Sushanta Chowdhury announced this in a joint press conference organized by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs at the secretariat’s press conference hall on December 2, 2023.

Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath was also present at the press conference. At the press conference, the Food Minister said that on December 11, paddy will be purchased from farmers at minimum support price from paddy purchasing centre in Melaghar of Sepahijala district.

Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath said in the press conference that the aim is to double the income of farmers in the state and from 2018 the state government started procuring paddy from farmers at minimum support price. Apart from encouraging farmers, this initiative is to ensure that they get a fair price for their produce.

He gave information that from the year 2018-19 to the year 2022-23, 1 lakh 79 thousand 219 MT of paddy has been purchased from 91,377 farmers at minimum support price. As a result, the farmers got 342 crore 34 lakh rupees.

Special Secretary of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Ravel Hamendra Kumar, Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Sharadindu Das, Additional Director of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Animesh Debbarma were present