Jharkhand Government Debates Extension of Paddy Procurement Deadline
In a significant development in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on Thursday, the state government indicated that it might extend the deadline for paddy procurement, currently set for March 31. This announcement came during a session where ministers addressed various agricultural and infrastructural concerns raised by lawmakers.
Procurement Progress and Extension Plans
Replying to a question from Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee, Minister Irfan Ansari disclosed that the government has procured only 3 million tons (MT) of paddy so far, which is merely 50% of this year's ambitious target of 6 MT. "Efforts are being made for maximum purchase from the farmers in the next 20 days. The last date of the exercise, which is on March 31, could also be extended," Ansari stated, highlighting the administration's commitment to supporting farmers.
Concerns Over Middlemen and Infrastructure
MLA Arup Chatterjee raised alarming issues regarding the procurement process. He claimed that middlemen are exploiting farmers by purchasing paddy at Rs 1,600 per quintal, significantly lower than the government-assured price of Rs 2,450 per quintal. To combat this, Chatterjee demanded that at least six primary agricultural credit society (PACS) godowns must be operational in every block to facilitate smoother procurement and reduce dependency on intermediaries.
Echoing these concerns, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi criticized the government for what he termed as encouraging middlemen by extending the procurement period. "The process should have been completed by January. There should be an adequate number of godowns in this regard," Marandi asserted. He further noted that paddy purchase in districts bordering Bihar is higher than in other areas, suggesting regional disparities in procurement efforts.
Other Key Discussions in the Assembly
The assembly session also addressed other critical issues:
- Electricity Services: In response to a query by MLA Jairam Mahto about delays in installing new transformers, Minister Yogendra Prasad announced plans to engage private agencies for transporting transformers to villages. These vehicles will be equipped with GPS systems for better tracking. Prasad urged citizens to report issues related to poles, supply lines, and transformers directly to executive engineers.
- Agricultural Export Infrastructure: Gandey MLA Kalpana Soren inquired about proposals for setting up an agriculture-export hub, including testing laboratories, cold chain facilities, and packaging units at Jharkhand's airports to boost agro-exports. Agriculture Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey responded that a proposal for a testing facility had been sent to the central government but was denied. "We will try to set up the lab again," she affirmed, indicating ongoing efforts to enhance agricultural infrastructure.
- Budget Approval: The house passed the water resource department's budget worth Rs 2,714.71 crore after a detailed discussion, underscoring the government's focus on resource management.
These discussions highlight the multifaceted challenges facing Jharkhand's agricultural sector, from procurement inefficiencies to infrastructural gaps, as the government seeks to balance farmer welfare with administrative targets.
