Bengal Government Faces Challenge in Registering Farmers for Paddy Procurement

Although the season's procurement started on November 1, the state government has not been able to register enough farmers for paddy to be purchased from them, which could pose a challenge to the Bengal government's goal of obtaining 65 lakh tonnes of paddy directly from the farmers during the Kharif (monsoon) season.

Prior to the procurement for the Kharif season, which began on November 1, the government aimed to register 25 lakh farmers who were willing. However, just 9.7 lakh farmers have been able to register so far, according to a top government official.

The source said, "It seems that it would be difficult to achieve the target of procuring 65 lakh tonnes of paddy due to the lack of enough registered numbers."

According to sources in the department of food and supplies, there are a number of reasons why farmers who sell their goods to the government at the minimum support price are not registered.

Initially, there were some technical issues with the webpage where farmers had to submit their papers and register their identities. Consequently, some farmers had difficulties while attempting to register their identities on the site.

Second, with the recent arrest of former minister of food and supply Jyoti Priyo Mallick by the Enforcement Directorate on allegations of irregularities in the purchase and distribution of food grains, authorities have been more careful while confirming the identities on the papers of the farmers.

According to sources, thorough verification this year revealed that several papers were missing when farmers registered their identities.

For instance, it has been discovered that many farmers have submitted information to the same bank account or used the same cellphone number. Some farmers have been able to claim ownership of the land for cultivation using false documents.

This time, none of these applications—which included questionable elements—were accepted. It has been requested that the district officials physically check the applications. According to a source, these farmers' names would be included on the site if they can provide the required paperwork.

Numerous of these petitions were granted approval to sell their goods up until last year, according to an official.

However, he said that after Enforcement Directorate searches, the current state of affairs was quite different. "No official is ready to take risks," he said.

In the past, farmers would register themselves via registered rice mills. However, reports said that this time the mills declined to register farmers in order to help the state government secure paddy.

"All rice mill owners are uneasy now that Bakibur Rahman, the owner, was arrested by the ED." The procurement process is being harmed by it, an official said.

The procurement process is moving on in line with the result. Only 3,696 tons of paddy have been able to be purchased so far this year. The amount was 16,000 tons the previous year.

Given that the government has set a much greater procurement goal for this year, the statistic is disheartening for the administration. The state has raised its purchase goal for the kharif season to 65 lakh tonnes from 45 lakh tonnes last year, according to a source.

There are two reasons why the governing elite may find delayed procurement problematic.

First, and foremost, the main reason the state government exceeded its objective this year was that it would not be able to provide the greatest number of farmers with MSP for their crop prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Secondly, it could have to write to the FCI to get rice for the state's cheap grain program, which would be much more embarrassing.