The paddy procurement in Balangir district would start from November 18.
This was informed to mediapersons by Balangir MLA Narasingha Mishra after the district level paddy procurement meeting was held via video conferencing here on Wednesday.
According to the information of the Agriculture department of Odisha, a farmer spends Rs 2,415 for production of one quintal of paddy.
And the Government purchases it at Rs 1,865 which clearly reveals that farmers are facing distress sale. The meeting recommended the the Government to purchase paddy at Rs 2,930 from farmers, informed Mishra further. Moreover, as the paddy is harvested in the district by October, paddy procurement from farmers should start from October in the forthcoming years, Mishra stressed.A recommendation in this regard would be sent to the Government for implementation, Mishra told.
The meeting discussed how farmers would not face exploitation at the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society ( PACS).