BERHAMPUR: Even though 10 days have elapsed since the opening of the mandis (
paddy procurement centres) in
Ganjam district, the government has failed to procure a single grain so far. The procurement centres were opened on December 21 in different areas.
"The procurement of the paddy has not commenced due to the delay in registration of millers and activation of computers in different primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS)," said an officer.
District civil supplies officer
Bishnu Prasad Supakar Supakar said, "Procurement is likely to take place in one or two days as almost all procedures, including registration of the millers, have been finalized. Several millers have already deposited their security deposits. Now we are verifying the same."
The farmers, who suffered crop loss due to the pest attack and unseasonal rain, have resorted to distress sale due to the delay in procurement, alleged
farmers' organizations.
"We have conducted meetings in different blocks, involving farmers, millers and block development officers (BDOs). We urged the farmers to get ready to supply their products to the mandis," said deputy registrar of cooperative societies Sukant Panda.
He said the procurement would be made by 388 PACS and one pani panchayat in the district.
Representative image
