Patna: The Bihar government will begin procuring paddy at the minimum support price (MSP) in North Bihar from November 1 and in South Bihar from November 15. Cooperation Minister Ram Kripal Yadav reviewed preparations for the procurement drive on Friday and directed officials to ensure complete transparency in the process.
The government has fixed the MSP at Rs 2,441 per quintal for common-grade paddy and Rs 2,461 per quintal for Grade A paddy, the minister said.
The procurement system aims to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their produce. Payments to eligible farmers must be completed within 48 hours, he said.
The minister added that AgriStack data would be used for paddy procurement. Farmers intending to sell their produce have been advised to obtain their AgriStack IDs in advance.
The government has also made arrangements for farmers to register their applications for paddy sales through the official portal, esahkari.bihar.gov.in.
Chairpersons, managers and office-bearers of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and trade mandals may also be involved in facilitating the process.
Pest Attacks Add to Farmers’ Worries Amid Low Rainfall
Farmers in Bihar are facing fresh concerns over their paddy crops as pest attacks and disease outbreaks threaten yields following inadequate rainfall.
Brown planthopper infestations and a disease locally referred to as Chatra Rog have reportedly increased in paddy fields. Farmers fear the damage could affect production, particularly as the crop enters the panicle emergence stage.
Farmers have been spraying pesticides to protect their crops, but they say the results have been limited. Inadequate rainfall during the month of Sawan had already caused concern, while some rain towards the end of Bhadon provided temporary relief.
However, the renewed pest and disease pressure has increased worries as the crop develops.
Farmers Ravindra Singh, Balmiki Sharma, Manoj Kumar and Pramod Mahto said the problem was spreading rapidly. They reported that leaves were drying, plant growth had slowed and some plants were turning yellow and dying despite efforts to control the damage.
Agriculture Scientist Recommends Preventive Measures
Dr Anita, an agriculture scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Lodipur, said the centre had been receiving complaints from farmers about Chatra Rog. Farmers have also been seeking advice through mobile phones, and the centre has been guiding them on possible treatment measures.
She said affected plants develop spots on their leaves and stems, followed by drying and scorching. The disease could cause crop losses of 50% to 60%, depending on the severity of the infestation, she said. Excessive weed growth along field bunds may also contribute to the spread of the problem.
Dr Anita advised farmers to apply urea in balanced quantities and avoid excessively dense transplantation of paddy.
For disease management, she recommended spraying propiconazole 25 EC or hexaconazole 5 EC, using 500 litres of water per hectare, when symptoms appear.
She also cautioned that stem borer attacks were increasing at this stage of crop growth. Farmers were advised to use fipronil 5 EC or cartap hydrochloride 50 SP for control, following the recommended label dosage and agricultural guidance.
