Rice worth Rs 51 cr lying with millers in Kalahandi

Newindpress, 28th April, 2008

BHAWANIPATNA: Due to shortage of space in the godowns of Food Corporation of India and Orissa Civil Supply Corporation in Kalahandi district, more than Rs. 51 crore worth of procured and processed rice of last kharif season is lying with the millers.Meanwhile, the fields are ready for summer paddy (dalua) harvest and it has been decided to take up dalua paddy procurement by the first week of May. During current fiscal, summer paddy has grown in 56,402 hectares of land and from sample survey conducted by the Agriculture Department, yield of about 38 quintals per hectare is expected. However, if the problem of space shortage in godowns persists, distress sale is apprehended. Considering the gravity of the situation, a paddy procurement strategy meeting was called on Friday chaired by the District Collector.It was revealed that for the kharif season, the procurement agents have so far delivered 1,57,904 mt of rice at FCI leaving a balance 35,996 mt of processed rice with different millers. While FCI has 73,500 mt capacity godowns at Kesinga, Bhawanipatna, Dharamgarh, Junagarh and Jaipatna, the Civil Supply Corporation has 30,500 mt godowns across the district.At the meeting, the FCI was asked to vacate godowns at Dharamgarh, Junagarh and Jaipatna by transporting the existing stock and hiring new godowns so that millers of these areas can deliver the backlog rice as well as the summer paddy rice which is yet to be procured.It was further pointed out that FCI is giving transport charge to millers at Rs. 17 per km for delivery of rice which is half the market price. As a result, millers from Dharamgarh sub-division are reluctant to deliver rice at FCI godowns at Bhawanipatna and Kesinga.The members suggested FCI to provide higher transport charge. Minister Pradipta Kumar Naik was present.