Post News Network
Nuapada, Dec 1: A spectre of distress sale of paddy looms large in this district thanks to an inordinate delay in the opening of procurement centres by the district administration.
While the centres generally start operating from the second month of November every year, authorities have failed to follow the practice this year. Though some mandis were opened November 20, they were closed soon after a direction from the civil supplies department, sources said. Even as the officials promised to reopen them after three days, they have failed to live up to the commitment so far, it added.
According to reports, the farmers have already brought their produce to their homes and have even started selling them in retail to meet their day to day needs. Some unscrupulous paddy traders and money lenders are buying paddy from these needy farmers at low prices.
It may be noted that the government has fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy (standard) at Rs 1,410 while price of grade A stands at Rs 1,450 per quintal. However, the disadvantaged farmers are selling the paddy at prices ranging from Rs 1, 100 to Rs 1,200 to unauthorised traders, a report said. Meanwhile, the farmers’ outfits of the district have demanded that the district administration come to the rescue of the farmers who are already in distress after affected by drought.
According to official sources, of the 1.92 lakh hectares of cultivated land in the district, 92,000 hectares of land were utilised for paddy cultivation. However, 78 per cent farming was adversely affected due to a severe drought caused by poor monsoon this year. Setting the target in advance, the civil supplies department had asked the district administration to procure 10 lakh quintal of paddy this kharif season. Following the direction, the officials opened the procurement centres November 20 to achieve the target. However, the department revised its target later and asked the administration to stop paddy procurement leaving farmers in the lurch.
To make matters worse, the district administration is yet to decide on the number of millers that would be granted permission for paddy procurement. It is learnt that of the 28 rice mills, 20 are ineligible to procure the grains as they are yet to get the environmental clearance from the state pollution control board. The millers are seen making rounds of the board office to get the clearance before the opening of the mandis, it further added.
Meanwhile, farmers are demanding that the paddy procurement process be hastened and that only eligible millers be allowed to lift paddy consignments.
