Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed that every farmer visiting a procurement centre must have his paddy purchased, and payments must be credited to his account on time.
Reviewing paddy procurement on Monday, he stressed the need to expedite the process and ensure that farmers face no inconvenience. In the meeting, it was informed that this year, the MSP for common rice is Rs 2,369 per quintal, and for Grade-A rice, Rs 2,389 per quintal, an increase of Rs 69 from last year.
Currently, 4,227 procurement centres are operational. The Chief Minister directed that this number be raised to 5,000 so that facilities reach villages and towns.
Officials reported that as of November 30, over 9.02 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been procured from 1,51,030 farmers, and over Rs 1,984 crore has been directly transferred to farmers’ accounts. The Chief Minister firmly stated that payment delays will not be tolerated at any level.
He also instructed that the supply of fortified rice for the midday meals and Anganwadi centres should remain uninterrupted, emphasising the need for adequate stock.
The Chief Minister further directed that manpower at procurement centres be increased as required. He said, “It is the administration’s responsibility to prevent overcrowding and ensure no farmer is turned away.” He also called for simplifying paddy lifting, mill mapping, and related processes to maintain a smooth, continuous procurement flow.
The availability of fertilisers and seeds was also reviewed. The Chief Minister made it clear that no district should face shortages and that farmers must have easy access to both. He instructed the departments concerned to conduct regular reviews of stock and supply.