In a significant development from Raipur, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee president Deepak Baij has made an urgent appeal to the state government on Thursday. He demanded an extension of the paddy procurement deadline by at least one month, highlighting the critical situation facing farmers as the current deadline of January 31 approaches rapidly.
Procurement Deadline Looms with Limited Working Days
Deepak Baij pointed out that with only nine days remaining until the January 31 deadline, the procurement process faces severe constraints. He emphasized that four of these days—January 24, 25, 26, and 31—are official holidays, leaving merely five working days for farmers to sell their valuable produce. This compressed timeline has created immense pressure on the agricultural community, raising concerns about their ability to access fair markets.
Token Distribution Halted, Lakhs of Farmers Affected
The PCC chief alleged that the government has abruptly stopped issuing both online and offline tokens, a crucial step in the procurement process. This suspension has reportedly left approximately 5.5 lakh farmers unable to sell their crops, with an additional 4.7 lakh farmers remaining unregistered. Baij stressed the urgency of resuming token distribution to ensure that every farmer can participate in the procurement system without unnecessary delays.
Procurement Targets Falling Short
Baij provided stark figures to underscore the scale of the challenge. Against a target of 165 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, only 115 lakh metric tonnes have been procured so far. He argued that it is impossible to purchase the remaining 50 lakh tonnes within the limited five working days. This shortfall not only impacts immediate farmer incomes but also threatens food security and agricultural planning in the region.
Financial Losses and Storage Issues Highlighted
The Congress leader claimed that negligence and inadequate storage facilities have resulted in substantial financial losses this year, amounting to Rs 1,037.55 crore. He further alleged that 25.93 lakh quintals of paddy from the previous season remain un-milled, with a significant portion rotting in collection centres due to exposure to rain and pest infestations. These issues point to systemic failures in post-harvest management that exacerbate farmer hardships.
Unfulfilled Poll Promises and MSP Demands
Baij accused the BJP government of failing to honour its election promise of paying Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy. He stated that following a Minimum Support Price (MSP) hike of Rs 186 over the past two years, the government should now be paying farmers Rs 3,286 per quintal. This discrepancy has fueled discontent among the farming community, who rely on MSP assurances for their livelihood stability.
In his concluding remarks, Deepak Baij urged the government to take immediate action by extending the procurement deadline, resuming token distribution, and ensuring that every grain is purchased at the rightful MSP. He called for transparency and efficiency in the procurement process to safeguard farmer interests and prevent further economic losses in Chhattisgarh's agricultural sector.
