PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

The minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rekha Arya directed officials to ensure that farmers receive payment within 72 hours of Kharif crop procurement in Uttarakhand. She gave the instructions during a departmental review meeting at Devendra Shastri Bhawan in Dehradun on Tuesday, focusing on the purchase of paddy and ragi.

Arya said that the State government has allocated a budget of Rs 600 crore to ensure timely payments. The central government has fixed the minimum support price at Rs 2,369 per quintal for paddy and 4,886 rupees per quintal for ragi this year. She instructed officials to increase storage facilities and ensure adequate availability of jute bags at all procurement centres.

Officials from Food Corporation of India, M

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