Lucknow. The state government has made providing fair price to the farmers for their produce, ensuring timely payment and providing full ration in prescribed quantity to the poor as the top priority. Food and Logistics Minister Manoj Kumar Pandey said that systems are being strengthened to make the food grain procurement and public distribution system transparent and accountable. Strict action will be taken in case of complaints of irregularities, shortfalls or illegal recovery in purchase and distribution of ration.
The minister said that a target of 65 lakh metric tonnes has been set for paddy procurement in the state in the Kharif marketing year 2026-27. In comparison, 5,047 purchasing centers are being operated. Procurement has started in Western Uttar Pradesh from October 12 and in Eastern Uttar Pradesh from November 1. So far, 40,447 metric tonnes of paddy has been purchased from 7,230 farmers and Rs 50 crore has been paid to them.
Payment of Rs 99,733 crore to farmers in paddy purchase
Manoj Pandey said that from the year 2012-13 to 2016-17, Rs 17,190.85 crore was paid by purchasing 123.61 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from 14.87 lakh farmers. At the same time, between the year 2017-18 to 2025-26, 528.39 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was purchased from 80.39 lakh farmers and Rs 99,733.10 crore was paid to the farmers.
He said that in the year 2025-26, 62.30 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was purchased against the target of 60 lakh metric tonnes. During this period, Rs 14,883 crore was paid to 10.53 lakh farmers.
Purchase of wheat and coarse grains also encouraged
According to the minister, Rs 12,808.67 crore was paid by purchasing 94.38 lakh metric tonnes of wheat from 19.02 lakh farmers from Rabi marketing year 2012-13 to 2016-17. In comparison, from the year 2017-18 to 2026-27, Rs 51,550.10 crore has been paid by purchasing 265.82 lakh metric tonnes of wheat from 55.89 lakh farmers.
The government is also providing the benefit of minimum support price to the farmers producing millet, jowar and maize along with paddy and wheat. In the current year, the support price of millet has been fixed at Rs 2,900 per quintal. 285 centers are operated for the procurement target of 2.20 lakh metric tonnes. So far, 8,716 metric tonnes of millet has been purchased from 2,244 farmers and Rs 20.82 crore has been paid. From the year 2022-23 to 2025-26, Rs 1,854 crore was given to 1,48,718 farmers by purchasing 7.14 lakh metric tonnes of millet.
The minimum support price of hybrid jowar is Rs 4,023 per quintal. 95 centers have been opened for the target of 50 thousand metric tons. Till now, 347 metric tonnes of jowar has been purchased from 106 farmers and payment of Rs 93 lakh has been made. At the same time, Rs 363.35 crore was given to 26,972 farmers in lieu of purchase of 1.04 lakh metric tonnes of jowar from the year 2023-24 to 2025-26.
The support price of maize is fixed at Rs 2,410 per quintal. For this, 120 centers are operated against the procurement target of 15 thousand metric tons. From the year 2018-19 to 2025-26, Rs 349.06 crore was paid to 40,322 farmers by purchasing 1.74 lakh metric tonnes of maize.
Payment will reach farmers' accounts within 48 hours
The minister said that the farmer registration process for the sale of paddy and coarse grains has been simplified. Farmers can register based on the details entered in their Farmer ID. If they are not satisfied with the details then they can also register as per the previous year process. Till now more than 1.40 lakh farmers have registered online. There is a system to send payment for the purchased produce directly to the bank accounts of farmers through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) within a maximum of 48 hours.
He said that the procurement process has been made transparent through online registration, integration of Bhulekh portal and e-procurement portal and Aadhaar based biometric verification through e-pop machines. This is helping to ensure direct procurement from genuine farmers and limiting the role of middlemen.
Action will be taken against reduction in ration and illegal recovery
On the Public Distribution System, the Minister clarified that eligible beneficiaries should get the prescribed quantity of ration. Discrimination will not be tolerated at any level. He directed that if a complaint is received about illegal recovery by the District Supply Officer or Inspector from fair price vendors, strict action should be taken against the concerned officers. He said that instructions have also been given to send the commission of fair price vendors to their bank accounts before Diwali.
8,753 Annapurna buildings are ready, food will be available for five rupees
The Minister said that to facilitate the public distribution system in the state, 8,753 Annapurna buildings have been ready, while the construction of 2,573 buildings is going on. Funds have been sent to the districts for the seating of the beneficiaries in these buildings and for the arrangement of jaggery and petha along with drinking water. These facilities will be ensured under the supervision of District Magistrates.
He said that arrangements will be made to provide food to the needy at just five rupees through Annapurna Rasoi in the mandis and labor dominated and poor areas of the state. With this, farmers, workers and poor families will be able to get food at cheaper rates.
There will be surprise inspections every week
To monitor the procurement and ration distribution system, the Minister talked about conducting surprise inspections every week. He said that the purpose of the inspection is to assess the status of the arrangements at the ground level and fix accountability. It is the department's resolve to provide fair price for the produce to the farmers, full ration to the poor and easy food to the needy. If negligence or irregularity is found, action will be taken against those responsible.