Chhattisgarh Food and Civil Supplies Minister Amarjeet Bhagat on Tuesday said a request will be made to the Centre to procure 23 lakh tonnes of usna (par-boiled) rice from the state.

The Central government has in principle granted permission to procure 61.65 lakh tonnes of arwa rice to the central pool.

The state has 461 rice mills producing Usna (par-boiled) , having a milling capacity of 5.93 lakh tonnes. It will cause losses to millers and its workers.

So, a request will be made to procure 23 lakh tonnes of usna rice, the Minister said. The Central government’s pending subsidy of Rs 3,631 crores will be also sought.

This year’s target of paddy procurement is 105 lakh tonnes which will require around 113.00 lakh tonnes of bales of gunny bags.

The procurement will commence from December 1. He added that for 2020-21, paddy is being given Rs 32 per quintal.