Kolkata: Murshidabad district administration has taken up a unique initiative to increase the income of the farmers, thereby giving them an opportunity to be economically stronger.
The district administration has started buying paddy directly from the farmers. The farmers have started selling their produce at various rice mills designated by the district administration. The initiative has created a platform to ensure that the paddy farmers get better price.
Senior administrative officials of the district have already held a meeting to spread awareness among the paddy cultivators, about the move made by the state government. The district administration has set a target of buying more paddy this year. It has been learnt that various women involved with the self-help groups in the district would be deployed for the buying and selling of paddy.
The administration has been engaging women from various self-help groups at every block of the district. The officials have already held meetings with the rice mill owners, urging them to buy paddy directly from the farmers. The district administration will also keep a tab on the entire exercise. The farmers involved in paddy cultivation throughout the district have been informed to sell their produce directly to the government. A control room will be thrown open soon to disseminate information among the farmers.
A rice mill has also been constructed at Berhampore through the initiatives of the district administration, where a huge amount of paddy can be stored. Earlier, the farmers had to sell their produce for lower cost due to scarcity of go-downs in the district. All the mill owners have been asked to buy paddy from the farmers, at a rate that has been fixed by the government.