PHULBANI : Kharif paddy procurement in Kandhamal district is set to begin from December 20 and the target has been set at 5,882.353 mt, said Collector Reghu G.
At a meeting of the District Cooperative Committee here on Saturday, Reghu said Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department has fixed a target of 4,000 mt of rice for the district for which 5,882.353 mt of paddy will be procured. The district administration has directed the Regional Marketing Cooperative Samitis in Phulbani and Tikabali to initiate measures to collect the targeted paddy.
The paddy will be procured by Government agencies at `1,470 per quintal and `1,510 for A grade quality, he said, adding that 23 mandis will be opened in the district. While seven mandis will be supervised by Kandhamal Sub-Collector, the rest 23 will be supervised by Baliguda Sub-Collector and a control room will be opened at Phulbani.
For the convenience of farmers, different days have been fixed for procurement. It has been decided to collect paddy in Tumudibandh and K Nuagaon every Monday. The mandis at Raikia, Baliguda, Kotagarh, Daringibadi, Khajuripada, Phiringia and Tikabali will function on Tuesdays.
On Wednesdays, the mandis at Phiringia, Tikabali, Phulbani, Chakapada and G Udayagiri will procure paddy. On Thursdays, mandis at K Nuagaon will remain open. On Friday, the procurement centres at Khajuripada, Chakapada, G Udayagiri, Phulbani and Daringibadi will remain open while on Saturday, mandis at Raikia and Phiringia will remain open, the Collector added.