Cooperative Department Minister Pramod Kumar Chandravanshi voiced serious concerns on Monday about the sluggish pace of paddy procurement in Buxar district. He issued clear directives to officials, urging them to accelerate the entire process. The minister stressed the importance of meeting procurement targets well before the looming February 28 deadline.
Procurement Figures Reveal Significant Shortfall
During a review meeting held in Buxar, district officials presented a sobering picture. They informed Minister Chandravanshi that procurement progress remains far below expectations. Current data shows only about 20 to 31 percent of the district's total target has been achieved so far.
The district faces a substantial procurement goal of 12.87 lakh quintals of paddy. However, after nearly 55 days of operations, officials have managed to procure only around 2.69 lakh quintals. This significant gap between target and achievement has raised alarms within the administration.
Minister Identifies Problem Areas and Issues Directives
Minister Chandravanshi expressed particular displeasure with the poor performance in Brahampur and Dumraon blocks. He instructed officials to implement immediate corrective measures in these areas. The minister emphasized several critical requirements for improving the procurement system.
Transparency must become the cornerstone of all procurement activities, according to the minister's directives. He specifically highlighted the need to prioritize small and marginal farmers in the procurement process. Timely payment to farmers at Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) centers emerged as another crucial focus area.
The minister issued additional instructions to district officials. He directed them to activate all cooperative societies fully. Regular visits to villages should become standard practice, he said. Officials must also undertake widespread publicity campaigns for cooperative and central government schemes available to farmers.
Farmers Voice Frustrations and Practical Problems
The procurement statistics reveal another troubling aspect. Paddy has been procured from only 3,041 farmers so far. This number appears remarkably low when compared to the over 20,000 farmers who have applied for the collection process.
Farmers on the ground describe numerous practical difficulties hampering procurement. Ram Janam Chaudhary, a farmer from Rajpur village, shared his frustrating experience. He cited multiple operational problems at procurement centers.
"Delays in weighing our paddy create unnecessary bottlenecks," Chaudhary explained. "The lifting of paddy from collection points often happens late. We frequently face shortages of gunny bags for proper storage and transport."
Perhaps most critically, Chaudhary highlighted payment delays. "These combined problems force many of us to sell our paddy to middlemen," he said. "We receive prices much lower than the Minimum Support Price of Rs 2,300 per quintal. This represents a significant financial loss for farming families."
Another farmer, Radhe Shyam Rai from Dumraon, echoed similar concerns. He suggested straightforward solutions that could dramatically improve procurement rates. "Basic arrangements at PACS centers need proper streamlining," Rai stated. "If payments reached farmers without unnecessary delays, procurement would naturally improve. Simple operational efficiency could solve many of our current problems."
Administrative Response and Political Reactions
Buxar District Magistrate Sahila has taken note of these operational challenges. She has directed District Cooperative Officer Chandrama Ram to identify and remove existing bottlenecks. The magistrate emphasized the need for daily monitoring of procurement progress to ensure timely course correction.
Minister Chandravanshi addressed another structural issue during the meeting. He emphasized the importance of increasing PACS membership among farmers. The minister also ordered strict action regarding managerial appointments. He specifically warned against the appointment of close relatives of office-bearers as PACS managers, calling for transparent recruitment processes.
Political reactions to the procurement situation have emerged simultaneously. The RJD Kisan Cell staged a one-day protest at Ambedkar Chowk in Buxar. Protestors alleged both anti-farmer policies and corruption within the paddy procurement system.
Addressing the gathering, RJD MP Sudhakar Singh made serious claims. "Farmers are unable to sell their paddy even at Rs 1,800 per quintal," Singh stated. "This falls significantly below the government's announced Minimum Support Price. Farmers deserve fair compensation for their hard work and investment."
Government Assures Review and Additional Support
Minister Chandravanshi responded directly to the allegations raised during the protest. He assured farmers and the public that the government would thoroughly review all complaints. Any corruption or irregularities reported against PACS and trade boards would receive proper investigation, he promised.
The minister also addressed recent natural challenges faced by farmers. He announced that crop damage caused by the recent cyclone would undergo proper assessment. Farmers affected by these weather events would receive appropriate assistance, the minister confirmed.
The situation in Buxar district highlights the complex challenges surrounding agricultural procurement systems. With the February deadline approaching rapidly, both administrative action and systemic improvements appear urgently necessary. Farmers await practical solutions that translate policy promises into tangible results at the ground level.
