SAMBALPUR:Paddy procurement for the current kharif marketing season (KMS) will begin from November 15 in the district.
The decision was taken at the District Level Procurement Committee (DLPC) meeting held here on Wednesday in the presence of Sambalpur Collector, Samarth Verma, officials of Food and Civil Supplies department, representatives of farmers and millers.
Verma said the State Government has set a tentative target to procure 2,55,882 tonnes of paddy during the current crop season. Of the total 2,55,882 tonnes of paddy, Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) will procure 2,30,882 tonnes while MARKFED and Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Limited (TDCC) will procure 22,059 and 2,941 tonnes paddy respectively. However, there is no restriction on procurement of paddy, which will come to market yards from registered farmers even after achieving the target with approval of the Government, he said.
At least 34,285 farmers have registered for selling paddy till October 31 to take part in the kharif paddy procurement against participation of 36,405 farmers during the KMS last year. Paddy will be procured through 77 market yards and paddy purchase centres spread across nine blocks of the district. This year, a new paddy purchase centre will be opened at Ghosaramal in Naktideul block of the district, Verma said.
Altogether, 51 millers will participate in the kharif paddy procurement process and the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy is `1,550 per quintal for common paddy and `1,590 per quintal for Grade ‘A’ paddy. Verma also directed the millers to lift paddy on the same day of procurement failing which, action will be taken against them.