Lok Sabha Question No. 1328 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-28
Subject: Procurement in Punjab
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SANTOKH SINGH CHAUDHARY

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1328

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  JULY, 2015

## PROCUREMENT IN PUNJAB

1328. SHRI SANTOKH SINGH CHAUDHARY:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

(a): whether  the  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI)  failed  to  achieve  its target for procurement and lifting of foodgrains in Punjab;

(b): if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(c) the steps taken to procure the entire produce offered by the farmers?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

(a) & (b) The targets for procurement of rice & wheat (in central pool) for last  marketing  season  in  Punjab  were  82  lakh  MT  &  120  lakh  MT respectively by State Government agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI).  The actual procurement against the total market arrivals were as under :

## (in lakh MT)

|                                      | Market Arrival   |   Procurement |
|--------------------------------------|------------------|---------------|
| Rice (Kkarif Marketing Season 14-15) | 79*              |            78 |
| Wheat (Rabi Marketing Season15-16)   | 105.06           |        103.43 |

As procurement always fluctuates based on the crop production & market situation in a particular season, the procurement of around 99% of the  total  market  arrivals  i.e.  marketable  surplus  by  State  Government agencies & FCI, in Punjab is a good performance, even though it is short of the targets fixed.

(c): The  steps  taken  to  procure  the  entire  produce  offered  by  the farmers are at Annex-I.

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ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART  (c)  OF  THE  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  1328  DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON  28.07.2015  IN  THE  LOK SABHA

The  steps  taken  to  procure  the  entire  produce  offered  by  the

farmers are as follows:-

1. Keeping in view the procurement potential areas, procurement centres for MSP  operations are opened by Government agencies, both FCI and State Government, after mutual consultations.
2. Farmers  are  made  aware  of  the  MSP  operations  by  way  of advertisements like displaying banners, pamphlets, announcement for MSP and specification in print and electronic media.
3. Payment  for  the  wheat  and  paddy  procured  from  farmers  is either  made  directly  to  the  farmers  or  through  arthias/cooperative  societies  as  per  prevailing  system  of  the  State. Payment to farmers are also made through A/c payee cheque/electronic mode. Even in respect of paddy purchased by  millers,  GOI  has  already  advised  State  Government  to ensure payment to farmers by millers/Pvt traders through A/c payee  cheque  so  that  trail  of  payment  can  be  made  while issuing  MSP  certificate  to  millers  for  delivery  of  levy  rice  to State Government /FCI.
4. State Governments are encouraged to undertake decentralized procurement,  so  as  to  enhance  the  procurement  of  food grains.
5. MSP  has  been  enhanced  from  time  to  time  to  encourage delivery of foodgrains into central pool purchase.

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