UP to procure 10 lakh tonnes of paddy

Lucknow, Sep 4 (UNI) After a dismal performance in procurement of wheat during the rabi season, Uttar Pradesh Government has now set a target to procure 10 lakh tonnes of paddy during the current kharif season.

The State Cabinet meeting here, chaired by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, decided to procure 10 lakh tonnes of paddy, but lowered the recovery rate of rice, which would result in loss of Rs 50 crore for the government exchequer.

The recovery rate of rice was lowered from the existing 67/68 per cent to 62/63 per cent in Eastern UP and 64/65 per cent in western parts of the state.

The UP government had failed to procure one lakh tonnes wheat during the rabi season against the target of 5 lakh tonnes, due to low Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the Centre.

On the other hand, private companies made handsome procurement of wheat as they offerred prices higher than the MSP.

The government procurement of paddy, to be made by the state agencies, will start from October 1 and continue till February 28, 2007.

The state had procured 10.46 lakh tonnes paddy during the last kharif season, while the total production of paddy in UP was 151.50 lakh tonnes.

In another decision, UP decided to transfer on deputation 12 professors of medical colleges to the UP Rural Science and Research Institute (UPRSRI), Saifai in Etawah district, hometown of the Chief Minister.

Of the 12 professor to be transferred, four would be from Kanpur medical college, three each from Agra and Gorakhpur and two from Meerut Medical college.

Dr Saudan Singh, principal of the Gorakhpur medical college, has been made the director of UPRSRI till a new appointment is made.

The government, also decided to amend section 29 of the UP Co-operatives Committee Act 1965, thus making it mandatory for the Registrar Co-operative to hold the election of co-operatives within six months after expiry of their scheduled tenure.

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