Patna: Paddy growers in Bihar are likely to get bonus in addition to the minimum support price (MSP) on selling their farm product to primary agriculture credit societies (Pacs) and Vyapar Mandals this kharif season, said cooperative department minister Prem Kumar on Friday.
The minister said the cooperative department and food and consumer protection department have reached an agreement to this effect and the cabinet headed by chief minister Nitish Kumar may decide on the amount to be offered as bonus to farmers in lieu of paddy soon. “Our government is committed to look after the concerns of farmers and do everything possible for their welfare. Bonus is just a token gesture,” added the minister.
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Unlike Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, bonus to farmers on paddy procurement has been discontinued in Bihar since 2015 after Nitish Kumar had dumped the BJP to form the Mahagadhbandhan (MGB) government. The BJP had then resorted to lodging massive protest against suspension of bonus for paddy procurement. In 2014, farmers were offered ₹300 on purchase of every quintal of paddy.
A senior officer of the cooperative department said that a consensus for the grant of bonus on procurement of every quintal of paddy has been arrived between the cooperatives and the food and consumer protection department at a meeting held on Patna on Thursday. “The concerned file has been sent to the finance department for approval. Once it gets the nod from the finance department, the issue will be put before the cabinet for a final decision,” said the officer.
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The cooperative department aims to procure around 30 lakh metric tonne (MT) of paddy this season. “The target of procurement is yet to be decision. Last kharif season, the government had stipulated the target of procuring around 45 lakh MT, against which around 30.79 lakh MT paddy was procured in the 2023-24 cropping season. Production of paddy is expected to be normal,” said a senior officer of the agriculture department, citing improved rainfall in the last few days.
Farmers of the neighboring states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have been getting bonus for the past several years, even though it weigh heavily against the states’ exchequer. Minister Prem Kumar said that inter-departmental coordination is also being established in this regard. “Efforts will be made to build consensus at the government level further. The amount is received from the food and consumer protection department on paddy purchase, hence the final decision will be taken at the level of the said department,” said the minister.
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The department is considering this to increase paddy purchase and give higher price of paddy to the farmers. Last year, the MSP of paddy in Bihar was ₹2183 per quintal, while the market price was from ₹2200 to ₹2400 per quintal. In Jharkhand, farmers were paid ₹2300 per quintal with a bonus of ₹117 and in Chhattisgarh, ₹3100 per quintal with a bonus of ₹917.
