*Important decisions taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee for the expeditious disposal of paddy*
*The deadline for depositing the remaining quantity for rice collection in the Kharif marketing year 2023-24 is now extended to July 5, 2025*
Raipur, June 26, 2025/ A meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee was held under the chairmanship of Food Minister Shri Dayaldas Baghel in Mahanadi Bhawan, Ministry, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar. Agriculture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam, Cooperation Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, Finance Minister Shri O.P. Chaudhary, Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal and Revenue Minister Shri Tankram Verma were present in the meeting.
It was informed in the meeting that in the Kharif marketing year 2024-25, 149.25 lakh metric tonnes of paddy has been procured from farmers at the support price, which is the highest figure since the formation of the state. Expeditious disposal of the procured paddy is being done through custom milling. Apart from the rice procurement target received from the Government of India and the Civil Supplies Corporation, the Cabinet has decided to sell approximately 35.00 lakh metric tonnes of surplus paddy through e-auction. For this, the auction process was conducted on the M-Junction platform. The rates received in the first phase tender were approved by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on April 29, 2025. About 18.91 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was successfully disposed of at the said rates. For the disposal of the remaining stocks, the highest bidding tenderers (H-1) and other tenderers were given an opportunity for price matching at the approved rate, so that the government could ensure transparency and healthy competition, and dispose of the surplus paddy without delay.
It was informed in the meeting that a total of 31.48 lakh metric tonnes of paddy has been stored in 78 collection centers of the state, out of which about 18.91 lakh metric tonnes has been disposed of through price matching and auction. Currently, about 12.57 lakh metric tonnes of paddy is yet to be disposed of. Necessary instructions have been issued to all District Marketing Officers and Collection Center In-charges to ensure quick lifting. Instructions have also been given to facilitate the movement of vehicles in the collection centers and to increase the number of hamals, so that the lifting of paddy is done quickly and the buyers do not face any inconvenience.
It was informed in the meeting that tenderers have the option of price matching after depositing the earnest money after registration on the M-Junction platform. Within 7 days from the date of price matching, the tenderers have to deposit 3 percent of the total value of the paddy purchased as security deposit. Thereafter, the buyer has to deposit the actual value of the stake in the e-auction platform within the stipulated period. As soon as the amount is received by the Marketing Federation, a lift order is being issued to the buyer. In the said sequence, important decisions were taken regarding the expeditious disposal of paddy in the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee held today. It was decided in the meeting that such tenderers who could not deposit the security deposit within the stipulated time frame during the price matching on the e-auction platform, or the purchase price (MVP) of paddy was not deposited within the time frame or was deposited late, they have now been given the last deadline of July 15, 2025. The period for depositing the remaining quantity for rice collection in the Kharif marketing year 2023-24 has been extended to July 5, 2025. Enthusiasm has been seen among the rice millers of the state towards these decisions taken by the government. The Chhattisgarh Rice Millers Association has also submitted a thank you letter to Food Minister Shri Dayaldas Baghel in this regard.
A technical committee has also been constituted under the chairmanship of General Manager (Marketing) for the disposal of technical problems faced by the millers and buyers during price matching and for necessary guidance, so that the problems can be resolved quickly.
It was informed in the meeting that in the same sequence, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai had met the Union Food Minister and requested to increase the target of depositing rice in the central pool from the paddy purchased from the farmers at the support price in the Kharif marketing year 2024-25 by more than 70 lakh metric tonnes. On this, the Government of India has assured to consider it positively in the interest of Chhattisgarh state.
Food Secretary Smt. Reena Babasaheb Kangale, Finance Secretary Shri Mukesh Bansal, Industry Secretary Shri Rajat Kumar, Director Food, Managing Director Markfed and other officers were present in the meeting.