Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has procured paddy to the tune of 3.58 lakh metric tonne from 53,000 farmers of the State, said Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Sanjay Dasburma today.
After holding a review meeting with the Food Supplies and Cooperative department officials, Dasburma informed that paddy procurement is underway in 9 districts through 255 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS).
The total value of the procured paddy is pegged at Rs 525 crores.
The minister also said that demonetization has affected paddy procurement in the State and the farmers are facing difficulties in withdrawing money.
“The paddy procurement process of the current Kharif season has begun in 9 districts and around 67 blocks and urban local bodies have participated in the process. 255 PACS are now involved in the process. Till now 3.58 lakh metric tonne worth of paddy has been procured from farmers. We have already paid Rs 409 crores to farmers online, while the total cost of the paddy procured is Rs 525 crore,” said Dasburma.
On the other hand, the Congress has criticised the double standards of the state government towards the farmers.
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Briefing media persons in Koraput, PCC president Prasad Harichandan said contrary to its commitment, the state government is not providing the minimum support price (MSP) on paddy to the farmers.
Condemning the arrest of two farmer leaders Akshaya Kumar and Seshadeb Nanda by the Commissionerate Police on Monday evening, Harichandan said while the state government claims that it gives top priority to the welfare of the farmers, on the other hand, it has taken repressive measures towards them with the illegal detention of these two senior farmer leaders.