Parliament Question: Leakage-free Procurement of Wheat and Paddy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4020 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2026 LEAKAGE-FREE PROCUREMENT OF WHEAT AND PADDY 4020 SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased

to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to focus on integrating end-to-end tech solutions in procurement to achieve operational efficiency and leakage-free procurement of wheat and paddy and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether integrated end-to-end tech solutions in procurement are likely to help transparency in procurement and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether farmers would receive real-time updates and payments through these integrated procurement platforms and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the new system would include grievance redressal mechanisms for farmers; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government for more collection centres closer to farms with adequate facilities? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBH AI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) & (b): The procurement of foodgrains is mandatorily carried out through State Foodgrain Procurement portals (SFPP) of the respective State Governments since Kharif Marketing Season

(KMS) 2021-22 onwards. SFPPs are integrated with Central Foodgrains Procurement portal

(CFPP) through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). This has led to creation of a repository of information related to Farmer-wise commodity procurement, payment of Minimum Support Price (MSP), Custom Milled Rice (CMR) delivered into Central pool, monthly availability of paddy with mills, mill-wise; monthly CMR delivered, mill-wise etc., thereby enabling effective monitoring and strategic decision'making.

Department of Food & Public Distribution has prescribed a set of Minimum Threshold parameters (IVITPs) for implementation by all the procuring States. MTPs include online farmers’ registration, mapping of farmers’ registration data with land records, digitized mandi/procurement centre operations and transfer of MSP in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.“One Nation, One MSP through DBT” has been implemented across the country from Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2021-22 onwards. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of MSP has brought in responsibility, transparency & real time monitoring in the system. DBT has prevented diversion of MSP payment as payment is made directly to farmer's bank account linked with Aadhaar number.

(c): Procurement portals provide farmers the latest/updated information regarding MSP declared, nearest purchase center, date/ period of procurement, allotment of slots/ time to farmers against their booking for sale of produce etc. This enables the farmers to deliver stock as per their convenience in the nearest man(ii.

As per Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the State Governments and the Government of India (Gol) for procurement operations, MSP payments must be credited directly to farmers' bank accounts through the online procurement system, within 48 hours of paddy purchase.

This provision ensures timely payments and prevents financial distress for farmers.

(d) & (e): As per the existing system, the matters related to farmers concerns/issues/grievances are being dealt by the concerned supervisory Managers of purchase centre/mandi and the concerned Divisional Offices/ Regional Offices of FCI.

Adequate number of Procurement centres are opened by FCI/State Government agencies with mutual consultation before onset of procurement season every year, keeping in view the procurement potential and geographical spread of the State concerned. Large number of temporary purchase centres, in addition to the existing Mandis and depots/godowns, are also established at key points for the convenience of the farmers. Review is made from time to time on the need for additional procurement centres, if any, during the procurement season and required additional procurement centres are also opened.

In order to widen the reach of MSP procurement, (loI has made provisions for engagement of Co-operative societies/Self Help Groups/ Panchayats/PAC by the State procuring agencies so that maximum farmers, in every nook & corner of the country, can avail the benefit of Price support operatIons.

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