CM Bhupesh Baghel urges Centre to give permission to procure rice from CG for central pool
Will encourage investment in bio-fuel in Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel today met Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Food Minister Ramvilas Paswan in New Delhi and urged them to procure rice from Chhattisgarh for the central pool. He also sought the Centre’s support in encouraging sale of bio ethanol in Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Ravindra Choubey and Food minister Amarjeet Bhagat accompanied the chief minister to the meetings. The chief minister has requested slackening of the provision to procure 32 lakh metric ton of rice from Chhattisgarh for central pool in larger interest of farmers.
It is noteworthy that according to the decision taken by Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in year 2014, rice will not be procured from state governments that provide bonus against paddy procurement at support price. But despite the decision, the provision was slackened for last two years and rice was being procured from Chhattisgarh for central pool.
Keeping this in view, Chhattisgarh Government has requested Prime Minister to slacken the provision for year 2019-20 as well and procure 32 lakh metric tons of rice from Chhattisgarh, because large quantity of inflow of paddy is expected this year.
He said that it is estimated that over 85 lakh metric tonne of rice will be procured this year.
Meanwhile, the chief minister has also urged the Centre to provide approval for production of bio ethanol as an alternative use of acquired surplus paddy in the year 2019-20. He said this would encourage investment in the field of bio-fuel. To, which, the union minister assured the state that the Centre will take necessary steps to promote the state government’s investment policy in the field of bio fuel.
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