New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh has set a new record by producing 624.33 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of food grains this year. The State Government has also procured 33.77 LMT of wheat from 6.71 lakh farmers so far this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, which is almost three times higher than last year. Last year, around 12.75 LMT of wheat was purchased from the farmers in the same period (till May 11, 2020).
The Aadhaar based procurement and PFMS schemes of the Government have benefited a total of 13.05 lakh farmers in the state. Huge quantities of wheat have been stored safely at purchase centres following a government directive in this regard in view of the forecast of rains.
It is worth mentioning here that wheat procurement has been steadily rising in UP under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath with daily wheat purchase crossing 1.38 LMT on May 11.
Yogi Government has revolutionised wheat procurement in UP by enhancing state-of-the-art facilities in the mandis, making arrangements for drinking water and shaded seating areas for farmers and issuing strict instructions for following Covid protocol. Government has encouraged competition by involving the Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO) in wheat procurement while also ensuring that those who were not interested to go to mandis, were able to sell their produce to the Government within the 10 kilometre radius of their farmland.
Significantly, the Yogi government has left the previous governments far behind in terms of payment to the farmers. Even in the case of paddy procurement, the Yogi Government is setting new records every day. The new schemes of the Government have strengthened farmers, said UP Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi.
He said that the Yogi government had scripted history by making the highest payment to the farmers in a duration of four years.
Govt pays over 1,35,295,57 crore to sugarcane farmers so far
Yogi Government has made a record payment of Rs 1,35,295,57 crore to the sugarcane farmers in the last four years of his tenure. The Government paid Rs 35,898,85 crore in the crushing season of 2019-20, Rs 33,048.06 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 35,440.91 crore in 2017-18. The UP Government has also paid Rs 10,661.09 crore dues to the sugarcane farmers pending since previous governments and crushing seasons.
Govt ensures availability of DAP and urea, curbs black marketing & hoarding
According to Surya Pratap Shahi, the Yogi Government has increased the grant from Rs 500 to Rs 1200 per bag in the interest of farmers. Now DAP is being made available to the farmers at the cost of Rs 1200 per bag. Besides, there is adequate availability of DAP is in the state and farmers are buying it at fixed rates. It is noteworthy that in the year, a bag of DAP cost 1130 per bag. Similarly, there is no dearth of urea in UP. The State Government is making sure that fertilisers and urea are available to farmers exactly when they need it and at prescribed rates. The Government is also taking stringent action against black marketeers and hoarders.
E-pop machines used for first time to procure wheat
The UP Government has used e-pop machines for the first time to ensure transparency and to eliminate possibilities of foul play in wheat procurement in the state. The farmers are getting total payment for their sale of crops in their bank accounts. Meanwhile Covid protocols are being followed strictly in the mandis. Oximeter and infrared thermometers have also been provided at the procurement centres.
Meanwhile, the state government has already made alll arrangements to prevent the wheat in the rainy season. ” No report of foodgrain being damaged due to rains has been received in the state, ” the UP Agriculture Minister confirmed.
In fact, the directives had veen issued much before the monsoons in this regard, he pointed out.
