Paddy Procurement to Start from May 14 in Sambalpur

Paddy procurement in the district for the rabi season will start from May 14. The decision was taken at the district level paddy procurement meeting held here on Tuesday.

A target to procure 2,94,117 tonne of paddy has been fixed. While Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies will procure 2,05,842 tonne, the rest will be procured by other agencies including Food Corporation of India (FCI), Markfed and rice millers.

Altogether, seven market yards of Regulated Market Committees have been identified for procurement at Baraipali, Goshala, Chaunrpur, Sason, Padiabahal, Sahaspur and Themra. That apart, five more procurement centres will be opened at Sersuantal, Jayantpur, Maneswar, Charpali and Mundhenpali. Procurement will be done in all working days between 7 am and 10 am due to heat wave condition.

The farmers have been asked to renew their existing Farmers Identity Card and those who do not have it can apply for new card.

The Regulated Market Committees have been asked to make arrangements for drinking water and first aid.

Each farmer can sell paddy upto 33 bags per acre and a quintal of grade paddy will be priced between `1310 and `1345.  Meanwhile, the farmers have laid thrust on quick procurement and shifting of paddy from the market yards due to unannounced storm and rain. Delay in the process would damage the paddy and deprive them of right price, they said.

The farmers, who were present at the paddy procurement meeting, expressed their anguish over failure of FCI in procuring paddy despite having required infrastructure.

They alleged that the FCI has failed to achieve its target and demanded a clarification on its role in procurement process.

The meeting was presided by Additional District Magistrate Jyoti Kumar Lakra.