Devbrat Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: With only a week left for the online registration of farmers for Kharif crops for the ensuing KMS 2018-19, the Co-operation department has raised concerns over the slow pace of registration process as only 65 per cent farmers in Odisha have registered so far.

The Registrar of Cooperative Societies has reportedly shot a letter to all the Divisional Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (DRCS), all the Circle Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies (ARCS) and the Secretaries of District Central Cooperative Banks, in this regard directing them to speed up the registration process.

As per reports, only 9,68,391 farmers had registered their names as on October 2, 2018, which is only 65 per cent of the target. What has been the major concern is there are only seven days to achieve the target (The deadline for registration is October 15, 2018).

During review of farmers' registration, it was observed that 11 districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Ganjam, Jajpur, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada and Sambalpur have achieved below the state average of 65 per cent of the total target, the least  being  42 per cent and 45 per cent in Balasore and Rayagada districts respectively.

While a target was set to register 21,000 farmers of Rayagada, till now only 10,638 have been registered.

Balaji Kadraka, a farmer of Dumaguda village in Rayagada, alleged that even though they want themselves to be registered, officials of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multi-purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS) have shown least interest because of which the documentation process could not be completed.

Not only this, 12 districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Ganjam, Jajpur, Khurda, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Rayagada and Sambalpur have achieved below the state average of 78 per cent of the renewal target; the least achievement districts being Bhadrak and Rayagada which have achieved only 53 per cent with reference to renewal of farmers.

Reports further claimed that 14 districts have achieved below the state average of 27 per cent of the renewal target, which reflected that except Nuapada , Koraput and Dhenkanal districts, others have shown no seriousness in bringing new farmers into registration fold as desired by the Government.

In view of the shocking reports, the Directorate had on October 5 asked the DRCS and ARCS of the aforesaid districts to submit their explanation for less coverage of farmers (new & renewal) within seven days.

Further, they have been asked to expedite the online registration on a mission mode and ensure maximum enrollment of new farmers such as sharecroppers, marginal and small farmers, members of the JLG groups involved in farming as per the target (@33 per cent enhancement) and renewal of 100 per cent farmers registered last year within the deadline.

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