BHAWANIPATNA: A fortnight after it was started on November 1, paddy procurement is yet to pick up in Kalahandi district. As on November 15, only 178 tonnes of paddy have been procured from 44 farmers through eight paddy purchasing centres of seven Primary Agriculture Cooperative societies (PACS), informed District Civil Supply Officer Sibaprasad Dora. As per field assessment, only 25 per cent of the paddy crop has been harvested so far. It is expected that harvesting and procurement process will gear up by next week, he said.
Dora further said that purchase of fair average quality (FAQ) paddy after proper analysis will be ensured at the mandis as per the decision of the State Government so that farmer can get the right price of their produce. Non-FAQ paddy will be converted into FAQ at the cost of the cultivators. Paddy will be procured through 149 mandis of 74 PACS, he said. On the other hand, farmers have found themselves in a spot of bother as mandis and millers are insisting on purchasing only FAQ paddy. Sources said as the inclement weather has damaged ripe crops in vast stretches of land, there may be an adverse impact on the quality of paddy.
Now, farmers in Indravati irrigated area have started demanding purchase of all types of paddy coming to the mandis. They alleged that most of the mandis are bereft of infrastructure to convert non-FAQ paddy to FAQ. Moreover, the farmers are also demanding bonus along with the minimum support price as is the case in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.Sources said farmers and middlemen on Odisha–Chhattisgarh border areas are willing to take paddy stocks to the neighbouring State where a bonus of `300 per quintal is available. Movement of paddy stocks across the border is easier as Regulated Market committee (RMC) check gates are no longer functioning with the free trading.
Farmer leader Debendra Patjoshi said the State Government should announce bonus for farmers as is being done in Chhattisgarh and other States. This will help farmers get a competitive price and compensate the loss they have incurred due to pest attack and bad weather.