Farmers Movement Archive

Paddy procurement deadline extension evokes mixed response in Bihar

PATNA: The state government’s decision to extend the deadline for paddy procurement from January 31 to February 21 has evoked mixed response from farmers. While a majority have claimed that the extension will allow the left out farmers to sell their yield to Primary Agriculture Co-operative Societies (PACS), a few rued slow procurement and involvement of middlemen in the process. Sudhanshu Kumar, a progressive farmer from Nayanagar village in Samastipur district said paddy procurement has been good through PACS. “Majority of farmers in the district have sold their paddy yield to PACS at the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government. The deadline extension for paddy procurement will allow the leftover farmers as well to sell their yield. It is a welcome step by the government,” he said. As per data available on the website of the state cooperative department, 22.2lakh metric tonnes of paddy has been procured from 2,99,673 farmers through PACS in all 38 districts to date. The target for Kharif (monsoon) paddy procurement for 2020-21 has been fixed at 45 lakh metric tonnes. Bandana Preyashi, secretary (cooperative department), said the paddy procurement quantity, as well as farmers selling their yield through PACS for the current season, has already surpassed last year’s figures. “The paddy procurement in the state last year stood at around 20 lakh metric tonnes, while we have procured 22.23 lakh metric tons this year so far. And we are certain to procure from maximum willing farmers based on our assessment,” Bandana told TOI, adding the number of farmers registered for paddy procurement through PACS increased from 2.72 lakh last year to 2.99 lakh this year so far. According to the cooperative department’s figures, the highest paddy procurement has been done in Rohtas district, where 2.16 lakh metric tonnes of the crop yield has been procured to date. However, Yashwant Kumar Singh, a farmer from Sasaram, the district headquarters of Rohtas district claimed that direct procurement from farmers is less. “Though 2.16 lakh metric tonnes paddy procurement through PACS is being shown in official records, but it is not more than 15-20% of the total yield of paddy in the district. Owing to the slow process in PACS and involvement of middlemen, large numbers of farmers are still selling their paddy yield to middlemen at prices lower than the MSP,” Singh said. Another farmer in Gopalganj claimed that many farmers are selling their paddy yield at Rs1500-1600 to the middleman. “Though extending the deadline for paddy procurement is a welcome step, but not more than 20% of the farmers in the district are selling their yield through PACS. Majority of farmers are selling to middlemen at the rate of Rs1500-1600 per quintal, who are in turn selling it to PACS at the MSP fixed by the government,” the Bhorey block-based farmer said. Preyashi, however, claimed that the involvement of middlemen has been minimised to a large extent. “The government has taken several measures to ensure farmers don’t go to middlemen. We started early procurement this year as it started almost one and a half year ahead than last year. Besides, Kisan Selhakars were roped in and more than 2 lakh farmers have been registered with their assistance. The process of registration has also been eased,” she said. Devendra Yadav, a farmer from Madhubani said paddy procurement through PACS has increased in the district, especially after the new farm bills were passed by the Centre. “Farmers are now more alert in selling their yield at MSP after PM Narendra Modi emphasised it and the Centre introduced the new farm bills,” he said.

The Times of India

2021-01-30

Patna