BHUBANESWAR: The state government will start procurement of the kharif paddy from November 15.
Paddy procurement of the kharif marketing season 2016 will begin at Atabira, Godabhaga and Kolapani blocks of Bargarh district. At least 16 rice millers have been registered to procure paddy from the district, said Minister of state for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Dasbarma here.
The Minister said that paddy procurement dates in other district will be decided by the respective District Procurement Committee.
On the rice millers demand to the government to pay the cost of transportation, mandi handling and supply of sacks, the Minister said that the department is examining these issues and a decision will be taken soon.
If necessary, there will be another round of meeting with them, he added.
The All Odisha Rice Millers Association had taken up these issues with the managing director of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation on Saturday. However, the meeting remained inconclusive.
Seeking cooperation from all stakeholders including the rice millers, the Minister said the primary objective of the government to ensure that farmers get the minimum support price (MSP). He assured that the demands of the millers will be considered and a decision will be taken.
About 47 per cent of the paddy is procured in western Odisha. As many as 3,69,771 farmers from 12 districts, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sonepur, Balangir, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Kalahandi and Nuapada have already registered themselves to take part in the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2016-17.