Non-resident Odia (NRO) Dr Digambara Patra, who is currently working as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, has requested Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to solve the problems in the paddy procurement system in the State with particular focus on Kalahandi.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Dr Patra expressed concern over the rise in the distress sale of paddy due to involvement of third parties and brokers in the State. He requested the Chief Minister to operate Mandis on daily basis and recruit a special officer at Panchyat or block level only to supervise paddy procurement, raise the upper limit of paddy procurement from 12 quintals per acre to 50 quintals, monitor authorisation of the farmers and punish brokers and officials in nexus.

He lamented that because of the corrupt system, in most of the Mandis, 90 per cent of the paddy is purchased from the brokers, while just 10 per cent comes directly from the farmers.