Odisha govt assures paddy procurement for all farmers, resolution of token issues

Odisha government will procure paddy directly from the farmers, and directions have been given to issue tokens to those who have not received them yet, informed Food Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Monday.

The Minister also stated that farmers can sell any leftover paddy after token allocation in the open market or keep it at home for their own consumption.

The paddy procurement process is now underway in the State, and reports from six districts have already been received. According to the latest data, while 53,838 metric tonnes of paddy have so far been procured from Bargarh, 96,000 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from Bolangir. An amount of  7,387 metric tonnes of paddy has been procured from Kalahandi and 3,847 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from Nuapada. Similarly, 60,256 metric tonnes and 15 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from Sambalpur and Sonepur, respectively.

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A total of 1,25,439 metric tonnes of paddy has been procured so far. The schedule for further procurement will be decided by the district-wise DLPC committees. A high-level committee met on Sunday to discuss the process.

According to Minister Patra, the government is taking measures to resolve token-related issues to ensure that no farmer faces difficulties in selling their paddy. Farmers are allowed to sell paddy in the open market after token allocation.

As per government norms, paddy will be procured at 19 quintals per acre from irrigated land and 13 quintals per acre from unirrigated land. Adequate storage space is available with the millers, and the government plans to clear the stock from the millers as needed. Farmers who have not received tokens will also be issued.

The Minister assured that all paddy will be procured as per the government’s fixed rates and that farmers will not face any inconvenience in the process.

"We will procure paddy from all the farmers, and no one will be left out. I have already instructed the officers to issue tokens to those who have not yet received yet. Farmers may sell any paddy remaining after token allocation in the open market or keep it at home for their own consumption. Paddy will be procured strictly as per the prescribed limits. The Agriculture Department has provided data on paddy production per acre, and procurement is being carried out accordingly. Paddy will be procured at the rate of 19 quintals per acre from irrigated land and 13 quintals per acre from unirrigated land," said Food Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra.