Question : PROCUREMENT OF PADDY

(a) whether many paddy farmers in the Diglipur and Rangat area of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are giving up paddy farming;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the public representative of the area has raised this issue on several occasions in the past;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon alongwith the reasons for non-procurement of paddy by the Government agencies from the region; and

(e) the arrangements being made for procurement of the said paddy alongwith the time by which the entire produce of the farmers is likely to be procured?

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

(a) & (b): No Madam. There are no such reports available with the Department

(c) to (e): Communications dated 4th March, 2011 and 20th September 2011 were received from Shri Bishnu Pada Ray requesting procurement of rice/paddy from the farmers of Rangat and Diglipur Tehsil of Andaman & Nicobar at Minimum Support Price. A letter written by Shri Bishnu Pada Ray dated 2.9.2011 addressed to Secretary General, Lok Sabha has also been received. Andaman & Nicobar Islands has adopted Decentralized Procurement scheme (DCP) from Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2003-04 and the primary responsibility to procure foodgrains lie with UT Administration. Government of India has already taken up with the Government of Andaman & Nicobar vide letter dated 30.8.2011 to make necessary arrangements for procurement of paddy.