Punjab News: Ahead of the upcoming paddy procurement season, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet with officials from the Food and Supplies Department on Wednesday to assess the state’s preparedness. The focus of the meeting will be ensuring a smooth procurement process, along with timely payments to farmers.
With a record paddy sowing during the ongoing kharif season, the Punjab government has set a rice procurement target of 48.5 million tonnes for the 2024-25 marketing year, which begins in October. This marks an increase from last year’s procurement of 46.3 million tonnes.
Additionally, basmati farmers are anticipating a bumper crop this season, thanks to the sufficient rainfall in recent weeks. The meeting will also likely address strategies to handle this expected increase in crop yield efficiently.
Increased Procurement Target Amid Record Sowing
Punjab’s revised rice procurement target of 48.5 million tonnes reflects the state’s record paddy sowing for the 2024-25 marketing season. This increase comes on the heels of a successful 2023-24 procurement, which saw 46.3 million tonnes of food grains collected. The state is poised for an even larger haul this year, driven by favorable weather conditions and improved rainfall, particularly benefiting basmati rice production.
Focus on Timely Payments and Smooth Operations
One of the key concerns for the Punjab government is ensuring timely payments to farmers, a recurring issue in previous procurement seasons. Chief Minister Mann is expected to direct officials to streamline the procurement process, reduce delays, and ensure that farmers receive their dues promptly. Ensuring sufficient procurement infrastructure and addressing any logistical bottlenecks will also be high on the agenda for the meeting.
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