JEYPORE:THE administration would start paddy procurement for the ensuing kharif season from November 25, informed Koraput Collector A Saha on Thursday. Presiding over the district level procurement committee meeting here, the Collector said the State Government has set a target to collect about 14 lakh quintals of paddy from Koraput in the first phase of kharif season. Paddy procurement would start in 46 mandis in Koraput and Jeypore sub-division from November 25 as per Government guidelines, Saha said.
He instructed officials of Civil Supply department, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Regulated Marketing Committees (RMCs) to ensure smooth procurement in mandis and warned of stern action if they are found harassing the farmers.It was decided that the PACs would handle the paddy in mandis with coordination of agents of millers. Handling charges would be divided between PACs and millers for smooth transaction of paddy from mandis to the mills.
The committee resolved that the mandis will be opened three times in a week in the scheduled market yards. The procurement agencies would only collect 1,500 quintals of paddy per mandi.
This year, the committee has decided to allow both small and big farmers to sell their paddy stocks in mandis at a time on a serial basis. Earlier, small farmers first sold their stock in mandis and later, the big farmers were allowed.
At the meeting, millers of the district urged the administration to ensure that fair average quality (FAQ) paddy is purchased in mandis. They also appealed to the Collector to ensure test milling of the paddy.
Jeypore MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati demanded that the PACs should spend money on development of infrastructure at mandis. Proper facilities for farmers in mandis under different RMCs in the district were also sought. It was decided to increase the number of quality and quantity measurement devices in different mandis for speedy procurement.
Among others, Jeypore Sub-Collector C S Rathod, DCSO B C Dash, Pottangi MLA Prafulla Pangi, Millers’ Association president G S Dash, secretary Gopal Panda and Kotpad Krushak Samaj president S Pradhan were present.