Lucknow, Oct 30 (PTI) Paddy procurement for the Kharif Marketing Year 2026-27 will begin in eastern Uttar Pradesh on November 1 and continue until February 28 next year.
The central government has increased the minimum support price for paddy this year.
The MSP has been fixed at Rs 2,441 per quintal for common paddy and Rs 2,461 per quintal for Grade A paddy, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement on Friday.
In view of the prevailing weather conditions, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to ensure that farmers visiting procurement centres face no inconvenience and that all necessary arrangements are completed well in advance.
Uttar Pradesh had procured a record 62 lakh metric tonnes of paddy last year.
The target has been increased further this year. Procurement of 65 lakh metric tonnes of paddy will be undertaken through eight procurement agencies and 4,500 procurement centres. Of these, 4,195 centres had been opened as of Friday.
The chief minister has also directed that payments to farmers be made within 48 hours through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). To eliminate the role of middlemen, the entire procurement system has been made online.
Additionally, farmers will receive Rs 20 per quintal separately towards unloading, sieving and cleaning charges.
Adityanath has issued strict instructions that farmers bringing their produce to procurement centres must not face any inconvenience under any circumstances.
In view of the weather conditions, all essential facilities, including shade, drinking water and seating arrangements, must be ensured in time.
Paddy procurement will begin in the Chitrakoot, Kanpur, Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Devipatan, Basti, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Mirzapur and Prayagraj divisions of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
In addition, procurement will commence from November 1 in Lucknow, Rae Bareli and Unnao districts.
The procurement process will continue until February 28, 2027.
Expressing confidence in the government's paddy procurement policy, more than 38,000 farmers have registered for procurement so far.
Farmers who have not yet registered or renewed their registration for selling paddy can do so through the official website, fcs.up.gov.in, or the UP KISAN MITRA platform.
In case of any difficulty during the paddy procurement process, farmers can seek assistance through the toll-free helpline number 18001800150.
Officials will ensure that their grievances are addressed, the statement said.
