FCI invites bids for private procurement of paddy in Bengal, UP

Food Corporation of India (FCI) has invited private entities to apply for procuring paddy (husked rice) directly from farmers in parts of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, it had finalised the name of National Collateral Management Services for paddy purchase in Jharkhand under the same scheme.

In the case of Bengal and UP, the contract will be for three kharif marketing seasons, starting 2015-16. The tenders have been invited for five areas in Bengal and four in UP, for both procuring paddy and delivery of resultant custom-milled rice.

The tenders follow a central government decision to allow the entry of private parties in procurement of foodgrain at the minimum support price.

The paddy would be procured and rice delivered in Siliguri, Murshidabad, Bankura, Burdwan and Dinajpur areas of West Bengal and Ambedkar Nagar, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar and Siddharth Nagar areas of UP. The bidders would have to deposit Rs 10 lakh as earnest money. The last date for bids is January 28 for Bengal and January 4 for UP.

The quantity procured should not exceed 50 quintals from each farmer. Of more, a written confirmation on the land area under cultivation by the farmer has to be had from the village sarpanch, patwari, block development officer, subdivisional magistrate or area manager of FCI.