Govt Extends Bonus Period For Paddy Procurement

New Delhi: To ensure adequacy of foodgrains in the Central pool, the Government April 19, extended the incentive bonus of Rs 40 per quintal over the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy procurement beyond March 31. In Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the bonus has been extended till September 30. In Bihar and Kerala, the bonus has been extended till May 31. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on April permitted the extension of incentive bonus period of Rs 40 per quintal being given for procurement of paddy during the kharif marketing season 2006-07. The bonus was extended over and above the MSP of Rs 580 per quintal and Rs 610 per quintal for common and Grade A varieties respectively.