Shortage of storage space likely to hit

The Statesman, 29th April, 2008

Shortage of storage space at the godowns of Food Corporation, Orissa Ware House Corporation and Civil Supply Corporation is likely to hit the prospects of summer paddy procurement which is slated to commence from 1 May in Kalahandi district.The issue of storage capacity was discussed at a procurement strategy meeting held here yesterday. It was held that procured rice of last Khariff season meant to be delivered to Food Corporation of India was adversely affected due to the same reasons and Rs 51 crore worth of undelivered rice is lying with millers. During the current year summer paddy has grown in 56,402 hectares, most of it in the Indravati irrigated area. Now that the storage problem has cropped up, several people here feel that unless alternative arrangements is made, distress sale will start taking place.The khariff procurement season saw millers delivering 1,57,907 metric ton of rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) leaving a balance of 35,996 metric ton of rice processed and lying in the premises of different millers due to paucity of space in the godowns of Food Corporation of India and Orissa Civil Supply Corporation. The Food Corporation of India godowns at Kesinga, Bhawanipana, Dharamgarh, Junagarh and Jaipatna have a total capacity of 73,500 metric ton while the Civil Supply Corporation godowns have a capacity of 30,500 metric ton, godowns located in different parts of the district. District authorities have asked the FCI to create space by transporting the stocks at Dharamgarh, Junagarh and Jaipatna godowns to other places. The meeting held yesterday also discussed the transport rates being given by the FCI to miller agents. The Rs 17 per kg rate given by FCI to millers is less than half the market rates, said some of the members at the meeting. This is one of the reasons why millers of Dharamgarh are reluctant to deliver rice at FCI godowns located at Bhawanipatna and Kesinga .The meeting was chaired by the collector of Kalahandi. Minister of state for labour Mr Pradeipta Kumar Naik, officers, farmer and miller representatives attended the meeting.