Meanwhile, as per reports, the farmers will resort to a road blockade at a few places in Punjab for an indefinite period from October 26 to protest against the "tardy" paddy procurement and other issues.
Chairman of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) Punjab, Surjeet Singh Phul spoke to ANI and said, "On October 26, both forums will do a road blockade at 4 points. We will begin the protest at 1 pm and sit on the streets."
Responding on the paddy procurement issue, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said that the highest priority has been given to Punjab and Haryana for the evacuation.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called on the Central Government to assist with paddy procurement, aiming to clear the state's mandis and facilitate wheat production for the upcoming harvest season.
After taking charge at the Haryana Secretariat, senior state minister Anil Vij on Friday informed that crucial issues such as the paddy procurement and availability of DAP fertilizer were discussed in the cabinet meeting.
As the harvest season begins in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday outlined several demands from the Centre including transportation be provided by the central government and that the procurement rate for dry harvest be adjusted from 0.5% to 1%.
The concerned procurement agencies and officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department were instructed to complete all the arrangements to start procurement from October 1 on this occasion.
Sushanta Chowdhury made the remarks during the launch of the paddy procurement drive at Jolaibari in South Tripura district on Saturday and said that this year's target stands at 15,000 metric tons.
The Sub-Divisional Administration of Santirbazar hosted a significant event on Saturday at the Jolaibari Motorstand Complex, marking the commencement of the paddy procurement programme for the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24 (2nd Crop/Rabi).
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs of Tripura Sushanta Chowdhury said that the state government will commence its annual subsidised paddy procurement programme on June 15. The initiative aims to support farmers financially in the state.
After deliberations, the estimates for wheat procurement during ensuing marketing season 2024-25 were fixed in the range of 300-320 lakh tonne. Similarly, the estimates for paddy procurement in term of rice during 2023-24 (Rabi Crop) were fixed in the range of 90-100 LMT.