In a meeting of State Food Secretaries held here today, procurement target for paddy in terms of rice for Kharif Crop  during Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2016-17 has been finalised as 330 lakh tonnes against target of 300 lakh tonnes of last year i.e. KMS 2015-16. In KMS 2015-16 actual procurement of rice (Kharif crop) was 309.28 LMT.

The meeting chaired by the Union Food Secretary, Ms Vrinda Sarup reviewed arrangements for procurement of paddy in producing States, particularly in decentralised procurement States and other non-traditional States to maximize procurement of paddy/ rice during KMS 2016-17.

States have been asked to identify immediately areas with maximum paddy production and to open adequate purchase centers and deploy sufficient manpower. They have also been advised to make arrangements for publicizing MSP fixed, procurement centers opened through print and audio-visual media as well as through pamphlets in local languages.

State Governments have also been asked to prepare details of storage plan for the ensuing KMS and have an action plan to meet the deficit in storage requirements, if required. Regarding Packaging material, Food Secretaries are requested to place indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid last minute shortage of packaging material.

All State Governments have been requested to adopt the system of e-procurement and integrated it with Online Procurement Monitoring System (OPMS) of FCI.  The FCI has been directed to constitute joint teams with the State Governments to oversee the conduct of procurement operations and to attend specific complaints, problems etc. Further, they were requested to ensure to follow up of prescribed quality checks of procurement of paddy.

States have also been requested to adopt DCP mode for procurement of paddy and wheat which states have not adopted this till date. Whenever any support and guidance needed by the States, FCI will provide their support.

State wise targets for procurement of paddy (in terms of rice) for KMS 2016-17 for Kharif season is as follows: