Govt to procure 1 lakh MT paddy from farmers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 03 2022: CAF and PD minister L Susindro Meetei has informed that the state government has set the target of procuring 1 lakh metric tonne of paddy from farmers annually to replace NFSA rice brought from outside with local rice.

Apart from farmers, paddy for NFSA rice will also be procured from paddy land owners and rice brokers, Susindro said, adding that the government is targeting to procure 30-50 metric tonne of paddy for this year.

Responding to policy cut motion raised by Opposition MLA K Ranjit during discussion on demand for grants of CAF & PD department in the assembly session on Wednesday, L Susindro said that the first meeting for replacing imported NSFA rice by local rice was held soon after FCI gave approval for the same.

Minister Susindro further informed that rice procured from farmers, paddy land owners and rice brokers at minimum support price will be provided to NSFA beneficiaries at the cost of Rs 3 per kilogram.

The government will develop a portal for the project and farmers will be allowed to register online but they need to produce 'No Objection Certificate' from paddy land owners.

He also said that the government is con sidering to include rice brokers (Chengdaibi) under the portal as part of promoting the profession and 2 percent of state's women voters which comes to around 20,253 Chengdaibi will be selected to assist local procurement.

Earlier, raising policy cut motion to the demand, MLA K Ranjit said farmers of the state have no market to sell the paddy rice they cultivated with hard labour and this is one main reason for ever decreasing paddy lands in the state.

Despite having Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014, the state is unable to save paddy lands as most of the farmers and paddy land owners look for financial return by constructing schools, hospitals, shops and other business structures as investment in paddy cultivation is at a loss every year.

He then stressed the need for developing irrigation canal for saving paddy lands and allowing farmers to cultivate paddy.

He also said that majority of farmers of the state now consume cheap NFSA rice instead of tasty local rice and this abets in decreasing number of farmers and ultimately gradual extinction of paddy lands.

Expressing concern over extinction of rice broker (Chengdaibi) since the coming of NFSA rice in the state, K Ranjit drew attention of the House for procuring the paddy through rice brokers if the government takes up steps to use local paddy in place of NFSA rice allocated for public distribution.

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