The Kharif paddy procurement would first begin from Tuesday in Bargarh district, informed Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma on Sunday.
Procurement would begin at Attabira, Godabhaga and Kolapani in Bargarh district. At least 16 millers have been registered to procure paddy from the farmers. Procurement committee headed by district Collector in the remaining districts would decide on the date for procurement in their respective districts.
Dasburma during a divisional -level preparatory meeting at Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Northern) office, Sambalpur last week said that 47 per cent of the paddy would be procured in western Odisha.
It was revealed in the meeting that as many as 3,69,771 farmers from 12 districts, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sonepur, Balangir, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Kalahandi and Nuapada have already registered themselves to take part in the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2016-17.
As many as 749 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) would participate in the paddy procurement process and at least 1,045 market yards would opened for smooth conduct of paddy procurement from farmers across the State.