Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, SEPT 25:
A meeting to review preparedness for the Paddy Procurement Season, KMS 2025-26 was convened today under the chairmanship of Director Agriculture Jammu, Anil Gupta here in the Conference Hall Directorate of Agriculture, Krishi Bhawan Talab Tillo. The meeting was attended by senior functionaries of the Agriculture Department and the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
The Director Agriculture reviewed in detail the arrangements for the crucial operations to ensure smooth, transparent and farmer friendly functioning of procurement centres. It was informed that FCI will procure paddy directly from farmers through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, thereby ensuring directed payments into farmers’ accounts within two working days at the notified Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs2,389 per quintal for Grade A and Rs 2,369 per quintal for Common Grade paddy. An Aadhaar based biometric authentication system will be implemented at all procurement centres to eliminate intermediaries and ensure transparency.
The Director directed the Chief Agriculture Officers of Jammu, Kathua and Samba to appoint SMS-level officers for effective supervision at procurement mandis and to conduct joint inspections of mandi sites with FCI.
He further instructed that districts must ensure speedy processing of bills so that farmers receive timely payments.
It was informed that the specifications for KMS 2025-26 will remain unchanged and any necessary updates will be notified by FCI through its portal. Participants discussed the provision of uniform cleaning charges, timely supply of gunny bags and logistical support at procurement mandies, coordinated between FCI and the Agriculture Department. The proposal to establish additional procurement centres at Airwan (District Kathua) and Ramgarh (District Samba) is under consideration, pending approval from FCI based on demand and feasibility.
The FCI representatives apprised that tenders for 24 procurement mandis have been issued and are under evaluation. The appointment of Mandi Labour Contractors (MLC) will follow shortly. At present, 24 Paddy Procurement Centres are operational across Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts to facilitate procurement operations.
The meeting was attended by Joint Director (SLUB/Farms) Jammu Sohan Singh, Deputy Director Agriculture (Central) Sanjeev Rai Gupta, Manager (General) FCI Mukesh Verma, Manager (General) FCI Vikash Kumar, DM FCI Jammu Sant Navneet Kumar Rana, DAO (Extension) Kathua Ravi Sharma and I/c Procurement Cell (DAJ) Sanjeev Khajuria, among others. Chief Agriculture Officer Jammu Manohar Lal Sharma, Regional Level SMS Madan Lal and DAO (Extension) Samba Harvinder Singh joined the meeting through Video Conference (VC).
