The Government has taken a number of steps to strengthen the Government procurement facilities for paddy at purchase centres. These steps include the following:
· Infrastructures for cleaning, drying, sieving the food grains andweighment facility is provided at the purchase centres.
· Campaign, publicity and advertisement about uniform specifications and MSP is given in radio, TV etc and hoardings describing the above are placed at the purchase centres.
· Handbills/pamphlets are also distributed to farmers for their awareness.
· Shelters and drinking water facilities are provided to farmers.
· Where the farmers and cooperative societies are registered, the information about date and time for bringing the produce at the centre are also given to the farmers through SMS.
· Electronic payments to the farmers.
· Registers for recording the reason for rejection of stocks.
Large number of Temporary purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandisand depots/godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of the farmers. This information was given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Prof. K.V. Thomas in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on December 06, 2013.
