Rupam Das, a progressive farmer from Golaghat, has dedicated several years to agriculture. After achieving financial stability through paddy cultivation, he has consistently received support from the Government’s paddy procurement initiative. In an interview with Asom Barta, Rupam said that he has been participating in the Government’s paddy procurement programme from the very beginning.
The Government of Assam, to support farmers, has decided to procure paddy at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,300 per quintal for the Kharif Marketing Season 2024-25. The Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited, Food Corporation of India, NAFED and the Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board have been entrusted to procure paddy from registered farmers through procurement centres established in various districts.
The procurement system stipulates that the paddy must be clean, dry and have a moisture content of no more than 17%. Rupam Das, adhering to these conditions, has successfully sold around 600 quintals of paddy this season.
“We are very happy with the State Government’s decision,” Rupam told this reporter, adding, “Earlier we used to sell our products through mediators for Rs 1,300-1,400 per quintal. Things are different now. We know we are getting the best possible price.”
Rupam is planning to invest the money earned from selling paddy in other farming activities.
Another farmer Sushanta Borah, too, has managed to sell more paddy this year compared to the last, “Heartfelt gratitude to the Government for this much- needed step due to which farmers like us are hopeful of better times. We are excited and keen to continue with farming.”
At present, Sushanta is focusing on making his agricultural practices more productive.
In the same manner, Bedanta Kalita, a farmer from Lakhimpur has also received benefits of this procurement scheme. Having been involved in farming for over 10 years, he cultivates Rabi crops along with paddy.
This season, Bedanta sold 70 quintals of paddy and his success is inspiring several farmers of the area.
Rishi Sarma of Kamrup district has also reaped the reward of the procurement system by selling between 400 and 500 quintals of paddy, “Our production has increased, and the Government’s support has motivated farmers like me to focus solely on agriculture,” said Rishi.
Rishi is hopeful that the Government will continue to implement more measures to support farmers in the future.
Echoing Rishi, Ajay Baishya, another farmer from Kamrup, stated, “This is the third such occasion that I have sold my paddy at a procurement centre. I am pleased to see paddy MSP rising every year. I can recollect days when we sold paddy to local traders for around ₹500 per quintal. All that is history now.”
Ajay has been cultivating paddy on about 10 bighas of land, and sold around 250 quintals this season. He is planning to use the money to support his children’s education.
Ratul Mili and Ajay Das of Majuli have also benefited by selling paddy. Ratul has sold around 100 quintals so far while Ajay Das has sold nearly 300 quintals in the last two seasons.
