The paddy procurement drive in Nabarangpur district got off with district Sub-Collector and RMC Chairman Gavili Parag Harsad inaugurating a district-level Mandi at Sanmasigam under Nabarangpur block on Friday. Presiding over an inaugural meeting, Civil Supplies Officer Ram Prasad Padhy said the district administration has decided to open 43 Mandis for Kharif paddy procurement with an aim of buying 5, 97,000 quintals in the first phase. He also informed that around 13, 997 farmers have already been registered to sale their paddy in the Mandis.
Meanwhile, the farmers demanded procurement 100 quintals of paddy per day instead of 70 quintals as fixed by the district administration and increase in the ceiling limit from 3,000 quintal per Mandi to 5,000 quintal at the Sanamisagam Mandi. Sub-collector Gavili said steps are afoot to ensure smooth functioning of the Mandis and announced enhancement in paddy procurement to 100 quintals per day. Among others, farmer leaders Jhadeswar Khadanga, Raji Tripathy, Balaji Prasad Mishra, Bulu Harijan, RMC secretary Chandra Sethia and block chairman Bedabyas Bhatra were present.