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The Uttar Pradesh Government has approved the paddy purchasing policy for the upcoming Kharif marketing year 2023-24, signaling a commitment to support the state’s agricultural sector. The new policy includes a significant increase in the minimum support prices for paddy, providing the much-needed relief and incentives for farmers.
The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting held here on Tuesday. Under this policy, the minimum support price for common paddy has been set at Rs 2,183 per quintal, while the support price for Grade-A paddy stands at Rs 2,203 per quintal. Notably, this marks a substantial increase of 7 per cent, equating to Rs 143 per quintal, compared to the previous year’s rates.
The government has also set a provisional target to purchase 70 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in the Kharif marketing year 2023-24. “To achieve this goal, coordinated efforts will be undertaken by various purchasing agencies, including the Food department, PCF, PCU, Mandi Parishad, UPS, and the Food Corporation of India. In total, these six purchasing agencies will operate 4,000 purchasing centres across the state,” Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said while briefing reporters.
One of the key highlights of this policy is the swift payment mechanism for paddy procurement. All the purchasing agencies will transfer the agreed upon price for the paddy through the PFMS portal of the Government of India within 48 hours of the procurement process.
The distribution of purchasing responsibilities among agencies includes 1,350 purchasing centres operated by the marketing branch of the Food department, 1,600 by the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Union (PCF), 550 by the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Union Limited (PCU), 200 by the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Cooperative Union (UPPS), 100 by the Uttar Pradesh State Agricultural Produce Market Council, and 200 additional centres to be established by the Food Corporation.
The timeline for paddy procurement in various districts has been defined according to geographical divisions. In districts such as Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur in the Lucknow division as well as divisions like Bareilly, Moradabad, Meerut, Saharanpur, Agra, Aligarh, and Jhansi, procurement will happen from October 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024.
Meanwhile, in the Lucknow division districts of Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Unnao, and other divisions, including Chitrakoot, Kanpur, Ayodhya, Devipatan, Basti, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Prayagraj, paddy procurement is scheduled from November 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024.
To streamline the paddy procurement process and ensure transparency, farmer registration and online purchasing of paddy will be mandatory at all the purchasing agencies. Biometric authentication of farmers through electronic point-of-purchase machines will be employed at the purchasing centres during the Kharif marketing year 2023-24.
In a move aimed at simplifying the process for farmers, the government has decided that for the sale of hybrid paddy, only one form, either the farmer’s declaration form or the hybrid seed purchase certificate, will be required.
Additionally, paddy purchases will be based on computer-verified Khatauni and Aadhaar card information, with verification of the area sown by farmers through revenue records.
The purchasing centres will operate from 9 am to 5 pm on all days, excluding Sundays and gazetted holidays. District magistrates will have the authority to adjust the opening and closing times of these centres based on local conditions.
Furthermore, to encourage the participation of Farmer’s Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Farmer’s Producer Companies (FPCs) in the procurement process, these entities have been granted permission to conduct procurement activities under the umbrella of the Mandi Parishad, Uttar Pradesh, for the paddy procurement marketing year 2023-24.
Meanwhile, in a significant move aimed at enhancing the mobility and efficiency of constables and head constables serving in the Uttar Pradesh Police, the Cabinet has given its nod to provide them with a motorcycle allowance of Rs 500 each. This decision comes as an upgrade from the previous cycle allowance of Rs 200, signifying a substantial increase in support for the dedicated police personnel.
The Cabinet’s approval of this proposal is expected to have a notable impact on the daily operations of these officers, who play a crucial role in maintaining law and order across the state. The shift from bicycles to motorcycles will enable constables and head constables to respond swiftly to incidents and fulfill their various vital duties in a more timely and effective manner.
Finance Minister Suresh Khanna elaborated on the rationale behind this decision, highlighting the unique responsibilities of constables and head constables. In contrast to personnel in other government departments who receive bicycle allowances, police officers often face situations where rapid response and quick deployment to incident scenes are essential.
Khanna noted, “Constables and head constables are frequently required to reach incident locations promptly and undertake critical tasks that demand agility. Given the current circumstances, using bicycles for such tasks has become impractical. Therefore, in order to ensure effective law and order, the proposal to replace bicycles with motorcycles and provide them with a motorcycle allowance has been approved.”
This decision is expected to have a positive impact on the overall effectiveness and responsiveness of the Uttar Pradesh Police. By equipping constables and head constables with motorcycles, the government aims to streamline their ability to address public safety concerns swiftly and efficiently.