Question : IRREGULARITIES IN PROCUREMENT .

(a) the quantity of wheat and paddy procured during the last one year and in the current procurement season, State-wise;

(b) whether complaints regarding exploitation of farmers by middlemen in procurement of paddy and wheat in various States during the said period, have been received;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard, State-wise;

(d) whether complaints have also been received regarding distress sale of these foodgrains at prices below the Minimum Support Price by the farmers in view of irregularities in the procurement of foodgrains;

(e) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government to tackle this problem?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a): The details of the procurement of wheat and paddy during the last one year and the current season, State-wise are at Annexure-I.

(b)& (c): No such complaint of exploitation of farmers by the middleman in procurement of wheat and paddy has been received.

(d), (e) and (f): Twelve (12) complaints have been received, in the Department of Food & Public Distribution and Food Corporation of India pertaining to alleged irregularities in procurement of foodgrains. The details are given in Annexure-II.

Various steps have been taken by the Government to tackle the problem of distress-sale and to ensure procurement of adequate quantity of foodgrains which, inter-alia, include the following:-

(i) Wide publicity of the specifications such as acceptable moisture contents, foreign matters etc. so that farmers may bring their produce accordingly and may not face any difficulty after bringing their produce at purchase centres. Handbills / pamphlets are also distributed to farmers for their awareness.

(ii)  At purchase centres/mandis necessary facility for cleaning and weighment are provided, arrangement of moisture meters and gunnies are made   so that prompt acceptance of farmer’s produce can be ensured.

(iii) In States like Madhya Pradesh, where the farmers and cooperative societies are registered, the information about date and time for bringing the produce at the centre are given through SMS.

(iv) Besides regulated mandis, temporary procurement centres are also opened to facilitate easy approach of farmers to MSP operations.

(v)  It is ensured that payment is made to the farmers within 48 hours of sale of their produce.

(vi) The purchase centres are kept operational upto the last date of the procurement season decided by Government of India in consultation with the State Govt.

(vii) Food Corporation of India ensures that there should not be any fund  crisis for the open ended procurement i.e, upto the last grains arrived at purchase centres are purchased .