GUWAHATI: With the onset of the Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24 (KMS 2023-24), both state and central agencies have initiated the direct procurement of paddy from the farmers in Assam.
The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy stands at ₹2,183 per quintal, a notable increase from the ₹2,040 per quintal offered during the KMS 2022-23, as per media reports. The state government has issued a fervent appeal to farmers, urging them to sell their paddy directly at the nearest paddy procurement centres operated by the government, discouraging dealings with middlemen.
Food, Public Distribution, and Consumers Affairs Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass emphasised the state's efforts to expand the network of paddy procurement centres. He urged farmers to deliver dry paddy with lower moisture content to the procurement centres.
In an effort to maximise agricultural productivity, Minister Dass encouraged farmers to cultivate mustard on their fallow lands after paddy harvesting. Highlighting the economic benefits, he noted that the MSP for mustard is ₹5,545 per quintal, and government agencies are prepared to directly procure mustard from farmers.
To streamline the procurement process, farmers are required to obtain a certificate from the Agriculture Department before approaching the paddy procurement centres. Agriculture Development Officers (ADOs) will issue these certificates based on the farmers' land documents in their respective areas.
The state currently boasts 170 paddy procurement centres, with plans to increase the number to 200.