The Tripura cabinet has decided to procure paddy weighing 35,000 metric tons from the state's farmers in the present month of December with enhanced Minimum support prices (MSP).

Addressing a press meet after the cabinet meeting, Information and Cultural Affairs (ICA)  Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday said that  35 thousand MT paddy will be procured in December at Minimum Support Price from the farmers of the state in the present December at Rs. 20.40 per kilogram.

He said that to procure 35, 000 MT paddy, the state government will have to spend Rs. 87.3 crore.

The Minister said that after the formation of BJP government in 2018, the government started direct paddy procurement from farmers of the state through MSP with Rs.17.50 per kg in 2018-19 financial year and now it has increased to Rs. 20.40 per kilogram.

So far, a total of 1 lakh 31 thousand MT paddy has been procured from the farmers at the cost of Rs. 243.99  crore.

The ICA Minister said that the policy of the state government is to double the income of farmers and lifting  of surplus paddy at minimum support price (MSP) will help  the farmers to earn more.

Meanwhile, it is learnt, the benevolent paddy procurement programme of the government at an MSP is expected to be commenced through different paddy procurement centres (PPCs) from the 2nd week of December 2022 said top brass of the Department of Food, Civil Supply and Consumers Affairs this evening. The Agriculture Department will provide logistic support in identifying and issuing authentic certificates to the authentic farmers in collaboration with the FCI.

The department is all set to set a new precedent in the paddy procurement gamut in the state with enhanced targets and increased prices within the shortest periods the officer added.

 It is expected that this time, the surplus paddy procurement will be   35,000 MT  superseding the target of 30,000 MT. It may be mentioned here that this year the MSP was increased from Rs 1,940/- to Rs 2,040/-per quintal with an enhancement of Rs 100/- per quintal that may bring many more new farmers to the PPCs said an FCI  official.