Rabi paddy procurement to begin in May

Bhubaneswar: Paddy procurement for the Rabi season will begin across 19 districts in the second week of May and continue till June 30. The decision was taken at a meeting of the State level paddy procurement committee today.

According to sources, the paddy procurement target for the Rabi season has been set at 10.29 lakh metric tonnes, which may be increased, if required..

Despite drought, paddy procurement in the Kharif season has increased by 4 %, the meeting revealed.

“We reviewed the preparations for paddy procurement for Rabi season and also the achievements of the Kharif season in the meeting. In the Kharif season, 41.69 lakh tonnes of paddy was procured, which is around 4% higher than the corresponding period in the previous season. We are targeting 7 lakh tonne in terms of rice in the Rabi season. If theneed arises, the target will be increased,” said Food Supplies secretary Madhusudan Padhi.