Tripura govt initiates paddy procurement at MSP to boost farmers’ income: Sushanta 

In a significant move aimed at bolstering farmers’ income, the Food Department in Tripura has commenced paddy procurement at a minimum support price (MSP).
This initiative is a collaborative effort between the State Food Department and the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, with paddy procurement for the current kharif season starting at an MSP of Rs 21.83 per kg.
The Minister for Food, Transport and Tourism departments, Sushanta Choudhury, chaired a crucial meeting with senior officials from both departments to review the preparatory phase of the procurement process.
Choudhury stressed that this procedure would directly benefit farmers and urged them to contact their nearest agriculture or SDM (Food Dept.) office to sell their produce. He emphasised that paddy procurement is a seasonal practice aimed at bolstering food grain stocks and ensuring fair market prices for the commodity.
Choudhury also set a target higher than the previous year for this season’s procurement, underscoring that no farmer should be compelled to sell their produce below the MSP. In the previous Rabi season, paddy procurement occurred at Rs 20.40 per kg across 40 centres in the state, which has now increased to Rs 21.83 per kg for the current Kharif season.
The video conference included the participation of special secretary Ravel Hemendra Kumar, Director of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Sharadindu Das, Director of the Food Department Nirmal Adhikari, Additional Director Animesh Debbarma, and officials from all districts of the state.