Chhattisgarh government had incurred a loss of about Rs 577 crore in procuring paddy from the farmers at a minimum support price in last two years.
State’s food and civil supplies minister Punnulal Mohile informed in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly (CLA) that the state government had to account a loss of Rs 576.87 crore in procuring paddy in 2009-10 and 2010-11. He was replying to a question raised by senior Congress Legislator Dharamjit Singh during Question Hour on Monday.
The minister said in the kharif marketing season 2009-10, a loss of Rs 297.68 crore was incurred while in 2010-11, the state government had to bear a financial loss of Rs 279.19 crore for procuring paddy from the farmers at a minimum support price. Mohile however put the ball on Centre’s court for the loss.
“The Centre sanctioned amount that was not in proportion to what the state government spent on interest, transportation and drought fund,” the minister said. As far the current kharif marketing season was concerned, the state government had not incurred any loss as on February 25, the minister said, adding that the recent rains had not damaged the paddy stocked in open. Chhattisgarh government had set a target to procure 5.5 Million Tonnes of paddy this year.
The farmers would get Rs 1080 for a quintal of common variety paddy and Rs 1111 for a quintal of A grade paddy. The officials are confident that the target would be achieved easily.
Mohile said the state government was taking all necessary measures to protect paddy from the sudden rains.