Odisha targets to procure record 60 lakh MT paddy this year

The Dollar Business Bureau

Positive to set a record this year to procure around 60 lakh metric tonne (MT) of paddy, the government of Odisha said on Tuesday that the exercise for Rabi crop would begin from May 1.

P K Mohapatra, Secretary, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare said that the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd (OSCSC) would be going for the 2nd phase of procurement of Rabi paddy from May 1 to June 30. The procurement of the paddy would be done from the farmers of 19 districts of the state, he added.

“Odisha is going to procure record quantity of paddy this year. While total 42 lakh metric tonne (MT) paddy were collected during the Kharif season so far, an additional 2 lakh metric tonne paddy would be procured by the end of this month. It is targeted to procure total 60 lakh MT paddy, both Kharif and Rabi, this year," Mohapatra said.

He further said that the officials have been directed for procuring 26 quintals of paddy per acre from the districts of Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Bargarh, whereas from rest of districts they would procure 24 quintals of paddy per acre.

The Secretary said that a minimum of 2 lakh MT of paddy would be supplied to four states each month, while adding that around 91,000 farmers from the state have registered so far for the procurement of Rabi paddy.

On the question on the benefits provided to the farmers, A P Padhi, Chief Secretary, Odisha government said that around Rs.6200 crore has been deposited in the farmers’ bank accounts.

“By end of the session of paddy procurement for both Rabi and Kharif, the farmers will get about Rs.9,000 crore,” he said.