Odisha Govt sets target to procure 71 lakh MT paddy

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has set a target to procure 71 lakh metric tonnes (MT) paddy from farmers during 2020-21 Kharif marketing season.  Arrangements will be made for procurement if farmers will have surplus paddy in their stock, said Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain.

Speaking  to mediapersons, the Minister informed that paddy procurement is underway smoothly for the last two days and their is no irregularities. So far 46,600 MT paddy have been procured from Bagarh, Sambalpur and Kalahandi districts in these two days,  he added.

“Tokens are being given to farmers on alphabetical basis for the procurement. There will be no issue in provision of tokens to all those farmers, who have registered for it,” the Minister stated.

In 2019-20 kharif marketing season, the state had procured 70.56 lakh tonne of paddy from farmers. Government-appointed agencies like PACS, LAMPS and WSHGs procure paddy in all districts at the MSP declared by the Central government.