The State Government has set a target to procure 44 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of Kharif paddy and 9 lakh MT of Rabi paddy in 2017, informed Chief Secretary AP Padhi after a review meeting at the State Secretariat here on Thursday.
Out of this paddy, nearly 36 lakh MT of rice would be prepared.
While the paddy procurement process would start from November 1 from Bargarh and Kalahandi districts, it would be extended to other districts from November 15.
The Chief Secretary said that nearly 10 lakh farmers have registered themselves for the purpose so far with the Government and they would be provided money for their paddy directly through their bank accounts.
Notably, payments worth crores of rupees to hundreds of farmers in several districts had been delayed during the last year’s Kharif season.
The authorised agencies have been asked to procure paddy at the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,550 for common paddy and Rs 1,590 for A-grade paddy. In the current year, mainly the Odisha Civil Supplies Corporation (OCSC), the Markfed, the TDCC and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) would be in charge of procurement. For this purpose, 200 godowns of OCSC and 46 godowns of FCI would be utilised.
Padhi directed the concerned authorities to conduct procurement in a systematic manner and to make the process farmer-friendly. They have also been directed to check harassment of farmers and prevent distress sale of paddy.