The State Government will establish purchasing centres for Ragi in mountainous areas to promote the consumption of millets, said the Food and Civil Supplies minister Rekha Arya. She said that Ragi is produced mainly in the mountainous districts of the State and specific purchasing centres in these districts will make them more accessible to all. She ordered the officials concerned to start construction of such centres soon. She issued the order in a review meeting held on Monday with departmental officials regarding the purchase of crops through agencies under the Kharif-procurement session 2023-24. Arya said that this year, the Central government has set a target of 1.26 lakh metric tonnes for the production of Ragi in the Kharif procurement season 2023-24. The minimum support price of Ragi has been fixed at Rs 3,846 per quintal. Besides this, the government has also set the target of procurement of paddy in this Kharif procurement season at about 8.96 lakh metric tonnes. Besides this, the government has also set minimum support price for rice as Rs 2,183 per quintal which is higher than the previous year, as per Arya. She said that the Kharif-procurement session was earlier from October 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024 but now it is only till December 31, 2023. Issues faced by farmers in selling their produce were also presented in the meeting considering which, Arya ordered the officials concerned to take all possible measures to ensure farmers face no difficulties during the procurement session.