Mungantiwar flags paddy procurement problems; Bhujbal orders pending bills sent to Finance in two days

A meeting on problems in paddy procurement was held in Mumbai. MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar raised the concerns of farmers and of those running procurement centres. Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Chhagan Bhujbal chaired the meeting.

Mungantiwar placed several demands before the meeting, including timely lifting of paddy, stock of gunny bags, warehouse rent and a separate fund for payments. On these, Bhujbal directed that files on pending bills be sent to the Finance Department within two days.

MPs and MLAs present included Praful Patel, Nana Patole, Parinay Fuke, Vinod Agrawal, Avinash Brahmankar, Krishna Gajbe, Ramdas Masram, Sneha Dubey Pandit, Vijay Rahangdale and Rajkumar Badole. Other people's representatives, department secretaries and senior officials were also present.

Mungantiwar pointed out in particular that paddy is not lifted on time after it is purchased, which causes trouble for farmers and procurement centres. He demanded a proper decision on relief for the shortage in weight caused by the delay. He also asked for an effective system to lift and transport the purchased paddy in the shortest possible time. He said it is not merely an administrative matter that paddy grown with a farmer's sweat lies at a procurement centre. Behind it lie the farmer's financial difficulties, and action should be taken with that understanding, he said.

Inadequate stock of gunny bags also hampers procurement. Mungantiwar raised this issue and demanded that the required quantity of bags be made available before the procurement season begins. He said the current rent for warehouses used to store paddy falls short of rising costs, and should therefore be reconsidered and raised realistically.

Mungantiwar also made an important suggestion for a separate portal, to bring transparency, coordination and effective monitoring to paddy procurement. Information on procurement, available stock, lifting, transport, warehousing arrangements and payments to farmers could be available in a single system on this portal. This would bring the reasons for delays to light immediately so that remedies can be applied in time.

So that farmers do not have to wait needlessly for money due to them after selling paddy, Mungantiwar demanded that a provision be made for a separate fund for paddy procurement payments, or that one be created. He said the money from selling paddy is the foundation of the farmer's next season, family needs and financial planning, so delay in payment is unacceptable under any circumstances. Citing rising milling costs, he also demanded that the milling rate be reconsidered realistically and raised. He further gave several suggestions to improve the efficiency of procurement centres, ensure immediate lifting and transport of paddy, build a sturdy storage system and remove administrative and financial hurdles in procurement.

Bhujbal responded positively to Mungantiwar's points and to the other demands of the people's representatives. The department concerned was directed to send, within two days, the files on all bills and demands that need Finance Department approval. It was also directed to follow up immediately with the Centre on the amount the state government is yet to receive from it.

The department was also asked to carry out a comparative study of the schemes, policies, rates and working methods for paddy procurement and milling in other states, and to submit a report on that basis towards framing a practical and effective policy for Maharashtra. The departments concerned were asked to work in coordination so that there is no needless delay in lifting, transporting and storing paddy after procurement. They were also told to ensure that farmers do not have to wait needlessly for payment for the paddy they sell.