Staff Reporter
RAIPUR,
Chhattisgarh Cabinet meeting on October 17 is likely to give its nod to paddy procurement. The official sources informed that the cabinet meeting would be held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The cabinet sub-committee had already approved the paddy procurement, beginning from November 1 this year. The proposal will be kept in the cabinet meeting. Other various proposals like reservation for scheduled tribes may be passed in the cabinet meeting.
Chhattisgarh Government has set a paddy procurement target of 110 lakh metric tonne (LMT) this year. Secretary of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Government of Chhattisgarh Topeshwar Verma said that as per instructions of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, all preparations are being made at paddy procurement centres across State and the paddy procurement would begin on October 1.
The State Government has placed an order of 2,97,000 bales of jute bags for paddy procurement to Jute Commissioner of India.
The Government of India has already given its approval for supply of 2,37,000 jute bags to Chhattisgarh. Verma said that the gunny bags remaining of the previous year will be also used for paddy procurement and there will be no shortage of gunny bags for paddy procurement.
The official sources claimed that over 28,000 crore will have to be paid to the farmers for procurement of paddy this year. Chhattisgarh government has sought around 18,000 crore loan from State government will also take loans from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and other banks to pay off the farmers on procurement of paddy from them. The State Government will also procure pulses on support price this year. The State Government has taken loans of Rs 75 crore from NCDC.
