Agartala, July 21, 2025: In a bid to safeguard farmers’ interests and ensure a seamless procurement process, a high-level virtual meeting was convened on Monday to discuss the upcoming paddy procurement drive for the ongoing Rabi season.

The video conference was jointly organised by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath and Food Minister Sushanta Chowdhury chaired the meeting from the State Secretariat.

The primary focus of the discussion was to assess the preparedness for paddy procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and streamline operational procedures to ensure direct benefits to farmers. The ministers highlighted the need for meticulous planning and inter-departmental coordination to facilitate a transparent and hassle-free procurement system.

Officials from across the state, including Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of Panchayat Samitis, Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Block Development Officers (BDOs), Deputy Directors, Agricultural Supervisors, and functionaries from both departments, participated in the meeting virtually.

Emphasizing the government’s commitment to fair pricing, the ministers directed officials to eliminate procedural bottlenecks and ensure that farmers are not subjected to any exploitation or delay in payments.