Paddy procurement across Odisha is set to commence from Tuesday after the Odisha Government reached an agreement with representatives of rice millers’ associations. The decision was finalised during a meeting held on Monday between Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra and officials of the State and District Rice Millers’ Associations at the Lok Seva Bhawan.

According to reports, the meeting featured extensive discussions on various aspects of the procurement process, with a strong focus on safeguarding farmers’ interests. During the deliberations, the Millers’ Association submitted a memorandum highlighting several concerns, including operational hurdles and logistical challenges.

Assurances Lead To Cooperation From Millers

The Minister assured the association that their demands would be addressed promptly. Following these assurances, the millers agreed to extend full cooperation for the procurement exercise during the current season.

Speaking on behalf of the millers, Deepak Ranjan Das, General Secretary of the Odisha Millers Association, said, “Millers from all 30 districts participated in the discussion and are satisfied with the assurances given. We trust that the Minister will resolve the remaining issues, including space constraints and other concerns.”

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Collection From Registered Farmers to Begin

The procurement process will officially begin today after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the State Supply Corporation and custom millers, reports said. The government stated that arrangements have been made to collect paddy from registered farmers and ensure they receive their dues without delay.