Odisha farmers to get paid within 24 hrs of paddy procurement

Bhubaneswar: Taking cognizance of the issues faced by farmers due to irregularities in paddy procurement and delay in payment of proceeds, Odisha Food Supplies Minister Surya Narayan Patro today said that the proceeds of paddy sold to the government will be credited to farmers' bank accounts within 24 hours of procurement.

Talking to media after a meeting on Kharif paddy procurement at the Revenue Divisional Commissioner office, Cuttack, Patro said the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy has been fixed at Rs 1,550 per quintal.

After the procured paddy reaches the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS), they will intimate Odisha Central Cooperative Banks and within 24 hours the paddy will reach the mills and in another 24 hours the farmers' bank accounts will be credited, said Patro.

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"Strict action will be taken against mill owners and people who buy paddy lower than the MSP. We have no objection if one will buy paddy from the farmers at any price higher than the fixed MSP," the minister said.

Paddy procurement would continue in the State till April, 2018 through 2,576 PACS.

Patro had earlier informed that the State government has set a tentative target to procure about 53 lakh tonnes of paddy during Kharif and Rabi seasons of 2017-18.