Odisha targets record paddy procurement this year

Bhubaneswar: Buoyed by the bumper paddy crop in Kharif and Rabi seasons, the State government has targeted to procure a record quantity of paddy from farmers this year. Food Supplies secretary Pradipta Mohapatra informed this after a meeting with Paddy Procurement Committee here today.

Briefing media persons, Mohapatra said Rabi paddy would be procured from farmers of 19 districts. The process will begin from May 1 and will continue till June 30.

“Odisha is going to procure record quantity of paddy this year. While total 42 lakh metric tonnes (MT) paddy were collected during the Kharif season, an additional two lakh metric tonnes 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 stated.

He further said the government aims to procure 26 quintals paddy per acre, each, from Bargarh, Sambalpur and Sonepur districts whereas 24 quintals paddy, per acre, would be collected from rest 19 districts. Besides, two lakh MT paddy would be exported to four states every month, the Food Supplies Secretary added.