Raipur, Feb 4 (PTI): Chhattisgarh has achieved a historic milestone in paddy procurement, surpassing all previous records by procuring over 149 lakh tonnes of paddy from farmers under the minimum support price (MSP) schemein the ongoing Kharif season. This marks a significant increase from the 144.92 lakh tonnes procured in 2023-24, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The two-and-a-half-month-long procurement drive, which commenced on November 14, 2023, concluded successfully on January 31, 2024, according to an official from the state public relations department.
Record Procurement and Farmer Benefits
A total of 149.25 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy was procured from 25,49,592 farmers, setting an all-time high record for the state. To support farmers, the government has already disbursed ₹31,089 crore directly into their bank accounts.Top Paddy-Producing Districts
Among the districts, Mahasamund led the procurement with 11.04 LMT, followed by Bemetara (9.38 LMT) and Balodabazar-Bhatapara (8.56 LMT).Custom Milling and Rice Millers
Of the total procured paddy, 103 LMT has already been lifted for custom milling, with 4,102 rice millers registered for the process.Support Price and Farmer Assistance
The BJP-led state government procured paddy at ₹3,100 per quintal. In addition, under the Krishak Unnati Yojna, farmers will receive the difference amount over the MSP as input assistance in February, as announced by the government last month.This record-breaking procurement underscores Chhattisgarh’s continued commitment to agricultural growth and farmer welfare, reinforcing its position as a leading paddy-producing state in India.