In another move for improving nutritional consumption among the PDS card holders, the State Government has decided to distribute one kg ragi at Rs 1 per card holder.
This was decided in Odisha Millet Mission meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi here on Monday.
Principal Secretary Agriculture Sourav Garg presented the issues relating to ragi procurement and distribution in the State.
Chief Secretary Padhi directed to pilot the ragi distribution in seven districts namely Gajpati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada and Rayagada in the month of July.
The card holders in Malkangiri will be supplied two kg of ragi. Padhi further directed the Millet Mission to promote consumption of ragi in urban pockets through tie- up with bakeries, biscuits manufacturers, sweet stalls and mega retail counters.
Principal Secretary Garg said that around 17,500 quintals of ragi would be distributed to the card holders.
The future of the programme will depend on the acceptability of the people and impact of the pilot. It was further decided to procure around one lakh quintals of ragi from the farmers in coming kharif season at minimum support price of Rs 2,897 per quintal.
Development Commissioner Asit Kumar Tripathy directed to create wide awareness among the card holders about availability of ragi in fair price shops.
Director Agriculture Muthukumar appraised that in the Kharif.season of 2018, a total of 24,499 farmers were registered and verified for procurement of ragi. Out of them, 6 622 farmers sold their surplus product to the TDCC.