The State Government on Tuesday announced that it would procure 6,600 tonnes of potato from farmers at Rs6 a kg. “The State Government will procure potato through Markfed by paying the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 6 per kg to farmers,” Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout told mediapersons after chairing a meeting held with Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma.
The meeting was held as per the direction of Speaker Niranjan Pujari after MlAs cutting across party lines expressed their concern in the Assembly over the issue. Rout slammed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India ltd (NAFED) for withdrawing paddy procurement assignment on March 18.
“Now, the State-owned Markfed will procure potato from Bargarh, Jharsuguda and Baleswar districts and the Udyan Fresh will procure from Baleswar, Khordha, Cuttack, Bhadrak and Puri districts,” Rout said. He also informed that the Markfed has been given a single rupee from the Government towards procurement of potato. On Monday, BJD Member Ranendra Pratap Swain had alleged in the Assembly that the Markfet had taken Rs 50 crore for procurement.
It may be noted that, Speaker Niranjan Pujari had convened a meeting which was attended by Rout, Dasburma and Maharathy besides the leader of the Opposition and leader of BJP legislature Party KV Singh Deo. As the meeting failed to come up with a concrete solution, another inter-departmental Ministers’ meeting was held on Tuesday.
Earlier in the morning session after Question Hour, Opposition Congress and BJP members had created ruckus in the House insisting on their demand on the issue. Speaker Niranjan Pujari had adjourned the House twice.
During Zero Hour, Opposition Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati raised the issue and urged the Speaker to direct the Government to make a statement. Stating that over 14,000 metric tonne of potato were lying unsold on the road, he urged the Speaker to direct the Government to inform the House what steps taken to stop potato distress sale.
Soon opposition members rushed into the Well of the House forcing Speaker to adjourn the House at 11.30 am till 12.50 pm. The same situation prevailed when the House reassembled at 12.50 pm with leader of Opposition Narsing Mishra urging the Speaker to direct the Government to make a statement.The Speaker then adjourned the House till 3 pm.