Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa on Tuesday directed officials concerned to make preparations to buy paddy under the minimum support price (MSP) in Udupi district.

Chairing the paddy MSP task force committee meeting at Rajatadri, district office complex in Manipal, Ms. Swaroopa said the process of buying paddy under MSP has already started. Farmers may register to sell paddy under MSP before October 31.

The government has fixed ₹2,369 a quintal for ordinary paddy and ₹2,389 a quintal for A-grade paddy. Purchase centres would be opened at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Yards of Udupi and Karkala, and the Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation godown in Koteshwara-Kundapura.

Ms. Swaroopa told agriculture department officials to obtain crop information directly from the Farmer Registration and Unified Beneficiary Information System (FRUITS) and procure paddy at prices fixed by the Central and State governments. They should also take steps to safely store the procured paddy in godowns. Farmers selling paddy under MSP should be paid through their banks under direct benefit transfer.

The DC said a maximum 50 qunital of paddy would be bought from one farmer at the rate of 25 quintals per acre.

Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary S.S. Kadrolli, Agriculture Joint Director J.C. Poornima and others were present.