*Administrative Secretaries directed to visit mandis and monitor procurement operations on the ground*

*Farmers should not face any inconvenience during crop procurement; ensure timely lifting of procured produce, directs Chief Minister*

Chandigarh, October 7 — Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, while chairing a meeting in Chandigarh to review the ongoing procurement of Kharif crops at Chandigarh, directed officers to ensure the timely lifting of paddy and bajra procured at mandis across the State, so that farmers do not face any inconvenience in selling their produce. He directed that the entire procurement process—from purchase and lifting to timely payment—must function smoothly and efficiently.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister was apprised that 5 lakh quintals of paddy have been procured so far. The Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure that lifting of the paddy is done promptly to avoid accumulation of stocks in the mandis.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government will ensure that farmers receive the benefit of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 2,900 per quintal for bajra this year. He said that bajra will be procured by the Government at Rs. 2,300 per quintal. In case a farmer gets a price higher than Rs. 2,300 per quintal in the open market, the difference between the sale price and the MSP of Rs. 2,900 per quintal will be compensated by the Government under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana. Under the scheme, farmers will receive a benefit of Rs. 600 per quintal from the Government.

In the meeting, it was informed that bajra is currently being sold in the open market at an average price of around Rs. 2,235 per quintal. Bajra is also being procured by private dealers.

The officers further informed the Chief Minister that last year, the Government had initially fixed the procurement price of bajra at Rs. 2,150 per quintal, which was subsequently revised to Rs. 2,200 per quintal. The difference between the procurement price and the price of arhtiyas, the MSP of Rs. 2,900 per quintal was compensated separately by the Government to farmers.

*Administrative Secretaries directed to visit mandis and submit reports*

The Chief Minister directed the Administrative Secretaries to personally visit mandis and assess the ground situation with regard to procurement, lifting arrangements and facilities being provided to farmers. He directed the officers to monitor the arrangements on the ground and submit a report to the Government. To further facilitate smooth procurement operations, HCS-level officers have been deployed at each mandi to oversee the procurement process.

The Chief Minister said that teams of departmental officers have been constituted to address the issue of paddy stocks remaining with rice millers from the previous procurement season. For the convenience of traders, an amount of Rs. 2,777 per quintal has been fixed.

Chief Secretary, Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Smt. Amneet P. Kumar, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Yashpal, Managing Director, HAFED, Sh. Chander Shekhar Khare, Director General, Food and Civil Supplies, Dr. Anshaj Singh, and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.