The Statesman, May 9, 2007
Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, May 8: To ensure a fair deal to farmers during the rabi paddy procurement season in Kalahandi, district authorities are devising strategies keeping in view past experiences.
Dalua paddy harvest and procurement started in the areas where irrigation is done through the Indravati. During the current season, 213000 metric tons of dalua paddy are expected to be harvested as per preliminary assessment of agriculture department.
At a meeting to take stock of the rabi paddy procurement here, it was decided that different government agencies like Orissa State Civil Supply Corporation, Markfed, TDCC, Nafed and FCI and the licensed miller agents should be entrusted with the task of procuring paddy. It was decided that all payments to farmers for the procured paddy would be done through account payee cheques to save farmers from exploitation and harassment.
Mr Pramod Kumar Patnaik, collector of Kalahandi, at the meeting attended by representatives of procurement agencies and district-level officials, warned that drastic action would be taken against those agencies or miller agents, who were procuring the paddy from farmers, if their cheques were bounced.
There will be strict monitoring by revenue and block level officials to ensure that farmers got a fair deal, he said.
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