Baghel calls on Paswan, demands increase in food grains allocation

New Delhi: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel met Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday and reiterated his demand for increasing Chhattisgarh's rice procurement limit under the central pool.

Baghel also urged the minister to enhance the allocation of food grains under NFSA as per the population of the state. The Chhattisgarh CM said that the state is expecting procurement of 85 lakh MT of paddy at support price in Kharif year 2019-20 and is interested in contributing its surplus rice to the central pool for the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Notably, Baghel had written a letter to the Union Minister on Tuesday requesting permission to Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure 32 lakh metric tons of rice from Chhattisgarh under the central pool.

Baghel apprised the union minister of the efforts made by the state government in creating a conducive environment for farmers by providing fair price and market for their produce. "Foreigners have shown a keen interest in products from Chhattisgarh at international buyers-sellers meet, which was organized in the larger interest of farmers of the state," Baghel told Paswan, who appreciated the state government's initiative.

During the meeting, the CM requested Paswan to extend the approved procurement limit for 'usna' rice from 24 lakh MT to 28 lakh MT and 4 lakh MT for 'arwa' rice.