Govt procures 17,497 MTs of paddy, benefitting 8,922 farmers: Sushanta

The state government has purchased 17,497.109 metric tonnes of paddy from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) this year. This paddy has been procured at a rate of Rs 23 per kg, benefiting 8,922 farmers across the state. Food, Public Procurement, and Consumer Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury shared this information at a press conference held at the Secretariat Press Conference Hall today.

The Minister informed that the procurement was carried out through 51 paddy procurement centres spread across 19 subdivisions in the state. The government has spent Rs 40.25 crore on this initiative, out of which Rs 35.52 crore has already been transferred to the farmers' bank accounts. This accounts for over 88 percent of the payments, with the remaining balance set to be disbursed soon.

The paddy procurement drive commenced on December 19, 2024, under the initiative of the Food Department, with active support from the Agriculture Department, and concluded on February 8, 2025.

Minister Chowdhury highlighted that since the formation of the current government, paddy procurement from farmers has been conducted twice a year during the Kharif and Rabi seasons. Since 2018, a total of 2,25,356.805 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured under the government's initiative, with an expenditure of Rs 446.13 crore. As a result, 1,17,049 farmers across the state have benefited. He emphasized that despite challenges posed by natural disasters; the procurement process has been highly satisfactory and is a testament to the government's commitment to supporting farmers and strengthening their economic foundation.

In addition to discussing the paddy procurement process, Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, who also holds the Transport portfolio, spoke about the state-wide public awareness campaign ‘Jagruti’. This initiative, jointly organized by the Transport Department and the Food Department, aims to promote road safety, consumer protection, and the prevention of substance abuse.

Students from 25 general degree colleges, universities, ICFAI University, Law College, TIT, and other educational institutions participated in the program. A total of 5,200 students took part in various activities under this initiative. The campaign was launched on January 11 in Udaipur, Gomati district, and concluded on February 10 at Rabindra Centenary Bhavan in Agartala. Students who actively participated in the program were also awarded at different levels.