Procurement of paddy for the current Kharif season will begin on November 13 in Subarnapur district.
This was decided at a district-level procurement committee meeting held under chairmanship of Subarnapur district Collector Dasirathi Satpathy.
Sources said the district administration has decided to check harassment of farmers and prevent distress sale of paddy during the season. In first phase, the tentative procurement target has been set at 1, 94,117.647 metric tonnes. As of now, around 38,389 farmers have registered themselves for online procurement to be held at 64 Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS), 13 paddy stretch purchasing centers, 5 market yards.
The Regulated Marketing Committees (RMCs) and PACS have been asked to provide required facilities to the farmers at the paddy purchasing centers, including analysis kit, moisture meter, tarpaulin, and polythene sheets to cover purchased paddy and drinking water facility. Farmers will get Rs 1,550 rupees per quintal of paddy and Rs 1,590 rupees per quintal of A Grade paddy.
Strict action would be taken against officials, millers and PACS in case of any deviation at their level, said Housing and Urban Development and Industries Minister Niranjan Pujari.