The State Government on Thursday announced the Food and Procurement Policy for Kharif Marketing Season 2013-14 with a reduced target of 30 lakh tonnes in term of rice while complying with the Government of India’s order to limit the imposition of levy on rice from millers up to a maximum of 25 per cent. The procurement would be effective retrospectively from October 1, 2013.
The State Cabinet accorded post-facto approval to the policy for Kharif marketing season 2013-14 and Odisha Rice and Paddy Procurement (levy) and Restriction on Sale and Movement Order 2013 by withdrawing earlier levy Control Order of the Central Government.
The policy envisages procurement of rice as per the support price fixed by the Centre for the Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of paddy. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for common variety of paddy would be Rs 1,310 per quintal and for Grade A variety Rs 1,345. The super quality paddy would be auctioned as per MSP in the RMC yards. Millers, traders and other agencies would participate in the auction.
Informal targets of 30 lakh tonnes in term of rice and 45 tonnes in term of paddy were fixed, out of which at least 25 lakh tonnes of rice would be procured by Government agencies, including the FCI, and the balance 5 lakh tonnes through levy.
The district Collectors were instructed to prepare district procurement plans for ensuring even spread of paddy purchase centres, availability of equipments at these centres, quality control training and publicity through media, drum beat, pamphlets and hoardings.
The State agencies, Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation, State Cooperative Marketing Federation and State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation, would procure paddy either directly from farmers from RMC market yards or with the help of PACS, SHGs and Pani Panchyats.
Payment to the farmers by Government agencies and millers agents would be made through A/C payee cheques or online transfer wherever such facilities are available. No cash payment would be allowed.
The farmers would be identified through Kissan Credit Card, land Pass Book, Record of Rights, Farmer’s Identity Cards, etc. The Government agencies would submit a computerised list of the farmers from whom paddy is purchased along with details on a daily basis to the concerned Collectors. Societies and millers must upload the daily purchase of paddy through mobile governance software provided by the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department on a daily basis.
Under the new Odisha Rice and Paddy levy Control Order, in order to boost free trade of rice and reduce the surplus carryover stock of rice by the OSCSC, the Government decided to reduce the levy percentage from 75 per cent to 10 per cent with retrospective effect from October 1.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal of the Water Resources Department to restructure the Directorate of Soil Conservation to remain as Directorate Watershed Mission. Besides, the Cabinet also approved restructuring of the Soil Conservation cadre with 15 cadres consisting of 1,900 posts.