FCI asked to begin paddy procurement in Haryana from today

Food Corporation of India has been asked to begin procurement of paddy on Minimum Support Price (MSP) in Haryana from today instead of October 1, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said.
Paswan along with Khattar also launched e-Kharid system, developed jointly by Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.
Paswan said that 'e-Kharid' would benefit farmers, traders and consumers.
It aims to extend ease of doing business, empower the farmers by providing them real time information and timely payment. Under the system, all the stake holders, including farmers, traders and government agencies, among others would get instant alerts on each and every transaction

Paswan also said that the Chief Minister in a telephonic conversation recently had informed him that the produce has already started arriving in the mandis and the procurement of paddy should be started at the earliest.
He said that though the MSP is usually implemented from October 1 yet considering the request of the Chief Minister and in the larger interest of farmers, he has taken the decision to start the procurement process from today.

"I have asked the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other agencies to start the procurement process from today", said Paswan.
He further said that he recently visited Brazil and he was surprised to listen from the authorities there that 95 per cent cows in Brazil are from Haryana.

Paswan also appreciated the Haryana government for taking
various initiatives in the state.
He said that he is thankful to the state government for linking all the ration cards with Aadhaar. This helped the Haryana in unearthing about one lakh fake ration cards.
Paswan further said that the aim of the government is to ensure computerisation and in the same series Point of Sale devises would be set up at all ration depots in the state from November 1, 2016.
"Under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendera Modi, various new welfare schemes have been started. Prominent among these are Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Suraksh Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna," the Minister further said.

Paswan also said that the central government is soon going to bring a law to safeguard the interest of consumers and to ensure that they get produce as per the specified standards.
Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution C R Chaudhary said that e-Kharid system would also be beneficial for the traders also as they would get SMS alerts on their phone having information about the current rate of produce.
Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister O P Dhankar said that with the implementation of e-Kharid system, the farmers would be able to sell their produce in any grain market across the country and similarly, the traders could purchase the produce from any mandi in the country. This system would bring transparency, he added.