Raipur: In Chhattisgarh, the BJP government today paid two years of outstanding paddy bonus into the accounts of farmers. The bonus of the deceased farmers is stuck. Bonus is not being given to the families and heirs of the deceased farmers. Due to this, the families of the deceased farmers have demanded that the bonus be given to the heirs.
Farmer leaders claim that 8-10% of the farmers have died. Also their accounts have been changed. Kamalpreet, Secretary, Agriculture Department, said that the heirs of the dead or affected farmers will have to apply to the concerned society. The matter will be resolved within three weeks of the application. The application will be sent online to the Tehsildar. Bonus will be paid on the basis of the report of the Tehsildar.
Chhattisgarh’s paddy procurement policy is a complex dance between ensuring farmer welfare and political aspirations. In the Kharif season 2023-24, the Baghel government upped the ante, raising the maximum procurement limit to 20 quintals per acre, a move seen as wooing voters ahead of elections. This increase followed the already generous Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojna, offering input subsidies of Rs 9000 per acre.
While farmers cheer the higher assured purchase and financial support, doubts linger. Can the state machinery handle the logistical challenge of managing such a large influx of paddy? Will storage facilities suffice? Critics point to previous years’ struggles, with delayed payments and overflowing godowns. They worry the ambitious policy might become just another populist promise.
Furthermore, the dependence on guaranteed purchases creates market distortion. Private mandis struggle to compete with the government’s fixed price, potentially limiting farmer choice and bargaining power. Long-term solutions, like promoting value-added processing and diversifying agriculture, remain distant whispers.
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