State Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro on Friday asked the Cooperation Minister to procure Rabi paddy from the farmers soon.
The Speaker issued a direction in this regard in response to concern of Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik and others in the House.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, the Leader of Opposition alleged that farmers across the State have suffered a lot due to mismanagement of paddy procurement. Thousands of quintals of paddy have been sprouted as they have not been procured by the Government.
“I urge the State Government to procure Rabi paddy soon and make safe preservation system at the Mandis. Kindly direct the Government in this regard,” said Naik.
Alleging that farmers in Sambalpr district have not received cost of the paddy procured in 2017 yet, Naik too urged the Government to repay the paddy prices to the farmers soon.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra also demanded that paddy be procured soon at right prices.
BJP Member Jaya Narayan Mishra requested the Speaker to direct the Government to procure all wet and sprouted paddy at the Minimum Support Price.