Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder today asked all deputy commissioners to ensure that paddy is procured directly from farmers to meet the target of rice procurement set by the government.

The minister came up with the request on the third day of the annual conference of deputy commissioners which is being held over five days instead of the usual three.

So far, the government has procured a total of 1.15 lakh tonnes of rice from millers against the target of four lakh tonnes.

Food safety and food security will be given top priority and mobile courts’ activities will be further heightened in this regard, the minister said.

Disappointed by the low prices, many farmers this year threatened to stop growing rice since they hardly make any profit from growing the staple. 

Farmers demanded that the government identify the real growers, offer them loan at 2 percent interest and reduce power bills for irrigation.