Paddy procurement on course

Farmers in Nalagarh have shown strong support for the state’s paddy procurement initiative, with over 6,173 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy procured within the first month, surpassing expectations. The process, which began on October 11, is progressing rapidly, suggesting the target of 6,300 MT will be easily met ahead of schedule.

So far, 1,208 farmers have registered on the department’s portal to sell their produce directly to the government, with tokens issued till December 4. Each day, up to 25 farmers are permitted to register, according to Narinder Dhiman, District Controller of the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.

The government has set a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,320 per quintal, a lucrative rate that ensures prompt payment. This shift from middlemen-based sales has been highly welcomed by farmers, who previously faced delayed payments and commissions.

This initiative, launched last year, aims to protect farmers from intermediaries who often delayed payments and took commissions. In 2023, the HP State Civil Supplies Corporation procured 5,200 MT of paddy from its centres in Malpur and Nalagarh. The success of last year’s programme has encouraged more farmers to participate this year.

To manage the large volume of paddy, the corporation has been sending stocks to rice mills for processing, allowing continuous procurement despite limited storage space. Efforts are underway to establish a dedicated storage facility near the market to better support farmers in the future.

Currently, 4,470 MT of paddy is stored at Malpur and Nalagarh centrres, while an additional 1,703 MT has been sent to mills. Approximately 67 per cent of the paddy returns as rice, with the remainder turned into husk and bran. Ensuring ideal moisture content in the paddy is a priority during procurement.