The Centre today reviewed procurement and storage arrangements for kharif marketing season (KMS) 2012-13 in a meeting with the States. Advance actions need to be taken for procurement for paddy and coarse grains in producing States, particularly in decentralized procurement States and other non-traditional States to maximize procurement of paddy and Coarse grains were also discussed. An official release says that Food Corporation of India, FCI and State agencies were directed to identify areas with maximum paddy production in all the States and to arrange opening of adequate purchase centres and also deploy sufficient manpower.

They were asked to provide district wise details of purchase centre to be open during 2012-13. During the meeting State Food Secretaries were requested to indicate the estimated procurement of paddy and Coarse grains during KMS 2012-13 and the levy percentage proposed in their respective States. They were also advised to finalise milling contracts in advance for the paddy to be procured.

The Central Food Secretary said that FCI and State Governments should make arrangements for publicizing MSP and procurement cantres to be opened through print and audio-visual media.

The States were also asked to prepare storage plans and to convey it to the centre so that action plans could be prepared in advance to meet the deficit in storage requirements. They were advised that all payments on account of purchase by FCI from farmers should be made by account payee cheques or through direct account transfer. It was also advised to place indents for purchase of jute bags and HDPE bags in advance to Jute Commissioner’s office so that sufficient number of bags are available in time. They were also requested to furnish state-wise estimate of procurement, period of procurement and demand for rice and coarse grains under Targeted Public Distribution System,TPDS.