Kathmandu. According to the Food Management and Trade Company Limited, Madhes Province Office, Janakpurdham, they purchased paddy worth Rs 40.764 million from farmers in the last two months.

So far, 11,235 quintals of Sona Mansuli paddy has been purchased from 240 farmers in Mahottari and Dhanusha districts. A total of 11,235 quintals of paddy was purchased at the rate of Rs 3,628.33 per quintal, said Nirmal Thapa, provincial chief of the office. Paddy procurement began on December 12 and this quantity has already been procured so far, said Thapa.

According to him, a large number of farmers from Dhanusha and Mahottari have registered their names at the office for the sale of paddy this year. According to him, the number of farmers coming to sell paddy has increased as the price of paddy is higher than the market price.

Paddy is being sold at Rs 3,000 per quintal in the market. According to assistant manager Ganga Prasad Sah, the Company has been purchasing up to 50 quintals of paddy per farmer, but it has purchased up to 55 quintals of paddy from some farmers based on the recommendation of the local level.

The government has made arrangements to send the payment to the farmers’ bank accounts. According to the office, the paddy brought by the farmers is being purchased from 10 am to 5 pm by placing two forks near the company’s godown. So far, 240 farmers in Dhanusha and Mahottari districts have sold paddy on the recommendation of the local governments.

Most of the farmers are from Laxminiya Rural Municipality, Nagarain Municipality, Chhireshwornath Municipality of Dhanusha and Balawa Municipality of Mahottari. The office has set a target of purchasing 13,000 quintals of paddy this year, said senior assistant Jaya Kishun Prasad Chaudhary.

The government has fixed the support price of Sona Mansuli paddy at Rs 3,628.33 per quintal this year. Sarala Prajapati, an officer at the Quality Section of the Office, said that the quality test is carried out before paddy procurement and only quality paddy is being purchased.