The Chief Secretary of Bihar held a review meeting of paddy procurement with all the commissioners and district officials of the state on Tuesday. Secretary of Food and Consumer Protection Department, Secretary of Cooperative Department and other departmental officers were present in this meeting. During the review of paddy procurement, the Chief Secretary gave several instructions to the concerned officials.
Under the instructions of the Chief Secretary, about three lakh 72 thousand farmers got the benefit of minimum support price of paddy in the Kharif marketing season 2023-24. This year, a target should be set to provide the benefit of minimum support price of paddy fixed by the Government of India to seven lakh farmers. Besides, a plan should also be prepared to purchase one and a half times more than last year.
At the places where PACS elections are to be held, the Block Cooperative Extension Officer or Zonal Officer should be made in-charge, so that there are no irregularities in procurement and payment to farmers. The Chief Secretary also directed that in order to keep paddy procurement transparent, simple and free from middlemen, district level officials should inspect the purchasing centers once or twice every week.
To speed up the pace of paddy procurement and provide farmers with the benefit of minimum support price, the purchase should be publicized every day through various mediums. Social media should be used as much as possible in this.
