Delay in paddy purchase will hamper execution of food law: BJP

PATNA: BJP on Tuesday slammed Nitish Kumar government for delay in procurement of paddy which would have negative impact on implementation of food security law in the state scheduled from February one as it has to pay an additional Rs 200-Rs 300 per quintal of rice to FCI.

"Shortage will force Bihar government to purchase rice from Food Corporation of India (FCI) for which it will have to pay an additional Rs 200-Rs 300 per quintal," former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters.

Delaying announcement of increase in bonus for farmers by two-and-a-half months instead of benefitting farmers would only benefit middlemen and traders as majority of farmers have already sold their produce in distress, he said.

The Bihar government today announced an increase of Rs 250 bonus on paddy.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced implementing food security law in the state from February one.

Sushil Modi alleged that the chief minister was neglecting agriculture, the mainstay of the state's economy.

"The meeting of Agriculture cabinet took place on Saturday after a lapse of seven months," he said.

Similarly, instead of starting paddy procurement ideally from November 15 the process begun a month after, Sushil Modi said.

As a result of this delay, only 60,000 tonnes of paddy have been purchased against a target of 30 lakh tonnes, he said.

Besides, in paddy procurement centres there was lack of sacks, balance for weighing produce and measurement instruments, he alleged.