News Analysis: Why buy from millers, why not from farmers? (Dhaka Tribune)

Dhaka Tribune published an article stating that much of the govt’s price support goes into the hands of the millers while only a small part of it goes to the farmers. An IFPRI study, Government measures to drive paddy prices up: nothing’s working attempting to understand how paddy is procured directly from farmers in the Indian state of West Bengal found out that since 2016-2017, the West Bengal state government has implemented an electronic paddy procurement (e-procurement) system. Between 2017-2018 and 2019-2020, farmers’ participation in the e-procurement system has increased five-fold, from 465,000 to 2.36 million farmers. If the government can ensure direct paddy purchase from the growers, crush the same into rice by offering a milling charge to the rice millers, it will be beneficial for all parties. Farmers will get their much-deserved price support, millers will get their service charges and the government will be able to maintain a good food reserve.