The Government has fixed January 31 as the deadline for the farmers willing to sell their paddy to register their names. This was decided at a meeting held here on Friday chaired by Civil Supplies Minister Sanjay Dasburma.
Principal Secretary of Civil Supplies Department Madhusudan Padhi, Ganjam Collector Premchand Choudhury and millers were present, among others. The farmers would be identified by Sarpanches, Samiti Members, Ward Members or Village Committees. Farmers would be paid through cheques.
Sources said that for paddy procurement which began from Saturday, so far 62,000 farmers have registered their names in Ganjam district. Ihe target for procurement in the district would be decided on January 31.
The meeting decided that procurement would be through 352 cooperative societies for which 322 millers have been identified. Out of these millers, 262 have already registered their names for the purpose.
Besides, registration of names of the target population at block level on food security would commence from January 28, the Minister said. Revenue Inspectors would endorse/recommend the names of farmers, he added.
Committee members wanted to know as to why paddy has not yet been procured even though Mandis have been opened in the district. Since there is a surplus of 3,27,000 tonnes of paddy in Ganjam, the district administration should ensure optimum procurement and the Collector should monitor and review the procurement at regular intervals, the Minister said. The farmers who would sell 75 quintals of paddy or more would be treated as Bada Chasi, he pointed out.