Attending a meeting of the Paddy Purchase Committee, Health Minister and local MLA Naba Kishore Das directed the officers for paddy purchase in a disciplined and transparent manner.
The Minister stressed on taking necessary action so that farmers can sell paddy in appropriate prices.
Civil Supply Officer Udit Kumar Patnaik informed about new online paddy purchase system this year and token to be given to farmers, from November 22.
This year, paddy purchase will begin from Laikera block. However, while no target has been set this year for paddy procurement, eight millers will take part in the system. As decided in the meeting , purchase will be done through 32 PACS and 40 paddy procurement centres (PPC).
In the meeting, farmers’ representatives opposed online token arrangements apprehending that poor farmers may be deprived of selling paddy.
According to sources, till date, eight millers in the district are registered along with 14, 441 farmers. As decided by the Food and Civil Supply Corporation of State Government, farmers can sell 12 quintal paddy per acre in non-irrigated land and 19 quintal per acre in irrigated land.