n Pradesh Congress Committee President Mohan Markam on Monday blamed Chhattisgarh BJP leaders for continuously interfering and putting obstacles in the paddy procurement at minimum support price by misleading the Central government.
Addressing the media, Markam said the Union Food Minister has sought details on the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Scheme bonus paid to the farmers when the state government has clarified that it is an assistance and not bonus on paddy.
The paddy procurement is per quintal but the scheme assistance amount is based on per acre which is `10,000 per farmer. The same aid is given to sugarcane and maize growers also. It is equivalent to the Central government scheme to farmers of `6,000 annually.
Countering the statement of BJP General Secretary D. Purandeswari, Markam said the Centre has not paid any advance of `9,000 crore or any aid.
The state carries out procurement through MarkFed by taking loans from financial institutions, the interest of which is paid.
In the current fiscal, `16,000 crores of loan will be taken, of which `9,500 crores have been taken from the National Cooperative Development Corp (NCDC).
He said the Centre has permitted 24 lakh tonnes against the 60 lakh tonnes commitment made, which he called an anti-farmer decision.
He demanded that the 60 lakh tonne permission be retained so that farmers are benefited as 90 lakh tonnes have to be procured in the state.
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