BHAWANIPATNA: Even as many irrigation pockets of the district faced acute water shortage, over 20 lakh quintals of paddy have been produced in the rabi season in Kalahandi district.
Accordingly, the Agriculture Department has begun paddy procurement in Jaypatna block.
The process would soon start in other blocks and would be completed before the onset of monsoon. It has been decided to engage State agencies like Orissa Civil Supply Corporation (OCSC), NAFED, MARKFED and TDCC. Besides, millers, who have achieved over 90 per cent target during kharif procurement, will also be engaged in rabi procurement.
In the last kharif season, the major procurement agency was the OCSC. However, it is apprehended that procurement margin by the OCSC would be less this time as the agency’s godowns are yet to be emptied.
The agency has godowns at Bhawanipatna, Kesinga and Junagarh with a total capacity of 2,93,000 quintals.
At present, these godowns have 2 lakh quintals of paddy that was procured in the kharif season.
Unless the stock is cleared, the agency cannot procure any more paddy.