Chandrapur MLA Demands Urgent Hike in Paddy Procurement Target
In a significant development impacting agricultural communities, former minister and MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar has made a fervent appeal to the Union government to substantially increase the paddy procurement target for Chandrapur district. He has specifically requested an additional allocation of 3 lakh quintals for the upcoming 2025-26 kharif season, highlighting mounting distress and financial concerns among local farmers.
Urgent Letter to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Mungantiwar has formally written to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, urging immediate intervention to prevent potential financial losses for paddy growers in the region. In his correspondence, he emphasized that the current procurement ceiling is grossly inadequate when compared to the actual production levels and the number of farmer registrations. He stressed the need for swift action to address this critical shortfall.
Discrepancy Between Production and Procurement Targets
According to official reports, the situation on the ground reveals a stark imbalance:
- Approved Procurement Centers: 39 centers have been sanctioned under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme in Chandrapur district.
- Farmer Registrations: A substantial 91,671 farmers have registered to sell their paddy produce through these centers.
- Productivity Assessment: Based on an assessment by the District Superintendent Agriculture Officer, productivity is estimated at 11.44 quintals per hectare.
- Total Recorded Production: The online procurement system has logged a total of 30.57 lakh quintals of paddy from the district.
Despite this significant production and registration data, the district has so far received a procurement target of only 5.48 lakh quintals. Of this allocated amount, 5 lakh quintals have already been procured, with the remaining allocation expected to be exhausted within the next two days.
Immediate Risks to Farmer Livelihoods
Mungantiwar has raised alarm over the practical consequences of this shortfall. He pointed out that, despite the online registration system being in place, a lack of available procurement slots has resulted in an estimated 2 to 3 lakh quintals of paddy lying exposed in the open near procurement centers. This situation poses a severe risk, as any unseasonal weather events or other disruptions could lead to crop damage, thereby inflicting heavy financial losses on the farmers who depend on this produce for their income.
Call for Additional Procurement Quota
Initially, the district had sought a procurement target ranging from 8 to 10 lakh quintals to adequately cover the harvest. However, no additional quota has been sanctioned to date. In light of this, Mungantiwar has specifically requested Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to direct the concerned authorities to immediately approve at least 3 lakh quintals as an additional procurement target for Chandrapur. This measure is seen as crucial to safeguarding farmer interests and ensuring that the agricultural output does not go to waste due to systemic procurement limitations.
The appeal underscores the ongoing challenges in agricultural procurement systems and the urgent need for responsive governance to support farming communities during critical harvest seasons.
