The Mamata Banerjee government has set a target of procuring 65 lakh tonnes of paddy out of its annual procurement target of 70 lakh tonnes in the kharif (monsoon) season only, in a bid to woo farmers in the state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

“Procurement for the kharif season started on November 1 and the government has decided to procure more than 90 per cent of its annual procurement target in the kharif season itself. This will allow the state to reach out to a maximum number of farmers with minimum support price of their produce,” said a senior state government official.

Procurement of kharif paddy is important as almost all the 70 lakh farmers in the state cultivate their plots during the monsoon season. In contrast, less than 15 lakh farmers cultivate their plots in the rabi or boro (winter) season. Of the state’s annual paddy production of about 165 lakh tonnes, more than 120 lakh tonnes are produced in the kharif season.

As more than 80 per cent of the 70 lakh farmers are small and marginal farmers, who hold less than an acre of land and cannot hold back their produce for long as they repay their loans and reinvest in the rabi (winter) season only by selling their produce.

“So, if the government wants to ensure MSP for the produce of the farmers, the government needs to buy as much paddy as possible directly from the farmers soon after the harvesting of kharif season. But setting a target of procuring more than 90 per cent of its annual target in the kharif season itself is something unusual,” said a bureaucrat.

Securing MSP for paddy is important for the farmers in Bengal. This year, a farmer can secure a sum of Rs 2,203 as MSP for a quintal of paddy. If a farmer is forced to sell their produce to the local traders or in the open market, he gets less, between Rs 1,600 and Rs 1,800.

Sources said that reaching out to the farmers was also important for the ruling establishment in Bengal ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls particularly after questions were being raised over the activities of food and supplies department following the arrest of the current forest minister and former food and supplies minister Jyotipriyo Mallick.

“The food and supplies department is the nodal agency that procures paddy from the farmers. So, the arrest of the former minister leaves a negative impact on the entire process of procurement. This is one reason why the state wants to buy a maximum quantity of paddy in the next two months to send a message to the farmers,” said a source.

Moreover, the former minister was arrested on charges of irregularities in the distribution of food grains through the public distribution system, which many said could show Trinamul in a poor light ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls if not tackled right now.

“People particularly in rural areas were in trouble during Covid-19 as they struggled to earn their livelihood. Food grains distributed through the ration shops were the only lifeline for many. Now, if they connect their plight with the arrest of the former food and supplies minister, the ruling party is bound to face questions ahead of the 2024 polls,” said a source.

The situation could be handled, sources said, only if most farmers get the proper price for their produce as they hold the key to electoral success in rural areas.

“This is another reason why the government wants to reach out to a maximum number of farmers by the next two months and secure MSP for their produce,” said a source.