Procurement operations for Paddy in West Bengal

For the last few years, the Government of West Bengal has started procuring paddy at t preannounced price directly from farmers instead of markets. For this purpose, direct purchasing centres, cooperative societies and even Farmer's Producers Organisations (FPOs) have been allowed to procure paddy, In order to make the procurement operations transparent the farmer has to register his/her name with available land records and bank account details. Without registration, no farmer is permitted to sell paddy at procurement price. The maximum amount of paddy can be sold in a season in 45 quintals. This has been done to eliminate middlemen who bought paddy at much lower prices from the farmers and took the benefit of procurement prices. At the procurement centre, only Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of paddy is accepted at the procurement centres. Paddy below FAQ is not purchased. The following parameters determine the FAQ of paddy: 1) Organic/inorganic matters 1% 2) Damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weevilled grains 5% 3) Immature, Shrunken and shrivelled grains 3% 4) Admixture of lower class 6% 5) Moisture content 17% For testing of the same, the purchase centres have necessary arrangements. At the purchasing centres, paddy is purchased only for two days a week. After the purchase of paddy, payment to the seller farmer is made directly to his/her registered bank account within 3 days. After the purchase of paddy, it is directly sent to the registered rice mills for processing to rice. After milling, the rice is directly sent to the government godowns.