Paddy purchase going on smoothly

SAMBALPUR: AMID reports of dispute over FAQ standard in other districts, paddy procurement in Sambalpur district for the current Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) is going on in full swing. Commencing on November 15, the authorities have already procured 1,03,446.85 tonnes of paddy till December 11. Sources said farmers had received `106.60 crore so far.

Civil Supply Officer, Sambalpur, Pitambar Acharya said the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department has set a target of 2,61,764 tonnes, out of which the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (OSCSC) will procure 2,30,882 tonnes. MARKFED and Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Limited (TDCC) will procure 27,941 and 2,941 tonnes respectively.

While OSCSC had procured 98,437.70 tonnes so far, MARKFED and TDCC had bought 4704.38 and 304.77 tonnes respectively till December 11, Acharya added.

According to the official, 41,327 farmers had registered themselves for the procurement against 36,405 last year.

“The farmers are focusing on hassle-free paddy procurement in the district and payment of Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy through online within a period of three days,” he added.

Even after achieving the set target, authorities had not imposed any restriction on the procurement of the crop which would come to market yards from registered farmers, the official said.

Kharif procurement is being carried out at 77 market yards and paddy purchase centres across nine blocks of the district. The Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) are procuring paddy on behalf of OSCSC in the district. Altogether, 51 millers are participating in the process.

Sambalpur Zilla Krushak Surakhya Sangathan (SZKSS) vice-presidnt Umesh Mishra said the procurement is being carried out smoothly in the district. The farmers are also getting their payment within the stipulated period, he added.