Bhubaneswar: As the process of farmers’ registration for paddy collection in Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2016-17 comes to an end October 31, the state government has asked three Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs) to sort out with collectors of concerned districts under their divisions to review preparedness for procurement which may commence any time in the second week of November.
The food supplies and consumer welfare (FSCW) department has asked RDC-North, Sambalpur, to hold the meeting November 4, while RDC-southern, Berhampur and Central division, Cuttack have been asked to organise preparatory meetings November 8 and 10 respectively.
Notably, as per the direction of the FSCW department the district collectors will be responsible for monitoring procurement, ensuring payment of minimum support price to farmers and preventing recycling of subsidized PDS (public distribution system) rice and distress sale of paddy.
The state government has set a procurement target of 44 lakh tonne paddy (30 lakh tonne in terms of rice) during KMS 2016-17.
The KMS which started October 1 will conclude September 30 next year. While Kharif paddy would be procured between November 2016 and March 2017, rabi paddy would be procured between May and June, 2017.
This year’s procurement will take place in 294 blocks across the state in which 2570 societies, 3032 procurement centres (Mandis), six paddy procurement agencies and over 1250 millers will participate.
So far, 8.97 lakh farmers have registered themselves to sell their paddy during the current kharif season. The farmers’ registration process for procurement will end October 31.
Meanwhile, in order to ensure a hassle-free procurement process a state-level procurement committee meeting on arrangement of Kharif paddy collection was organised at Secretariat Friday evening under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi in the presence of concerned officials including secretaries of food supplies, agriculture and cooperation departments.
The Chief Secretary asked all concerned officials during the meeting to coordinate with one another to make the process smooth.
He directed measures to provide storage for paddy to prevent damage due to unseasonal rain. He further instructed officials not to exclude farmers who do not have Aadhar card from the procurement process.
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