Irfan Ansari launches Jharkhand paddy procurement, direct farmer pay

• Jharkhand's food minister launched the state's paddy procurement exercise.
• The government will procure paddy at Rs 2,450 per quintal, targeting 7 lakh metric tonnes.
• Jharkhand is the first state to ensure one-time direct payment to farmers immediately after procurement.
• Farmers will receive a bonus of Rs 81 per quintal in addition to the Centre's MSP for the 2025-26 fiscal.
• A total of 783 procurement centres have been set up across the state.

Why It Matters: Jharkhand's new paddy procurement ensures direct, one-time payments for farmers.