Expressbuzz, Nov 19, 2008
BHAWANIPATNA: Farmers of Kalahandi are a tense lot as paddy procurement process in the district is in a shambles. The ‘mandies’ were officially declared functional by the district administration on November 5 but since then, there has been little progress in the procurement process. At present, 70 per cent of total paddy harvesting work is complete and farmers are waiting for millers to buy their produce.
This year, it has been tagetted to procure 2,60,000 matric tonne (MT) of rice which will be 3,83,000 MT paddy from the district. The district administration has decided to open 51 ‘mandies’ of Regulated Market Committees (RMCs) and also directed officials concerned to open ‘mandies’ at panchayat levels in phases. However, as government officials are yet to start procurement, the situation has lead to distress sale. As per the decision, Supply Corporation, NAFED, primary agriculture societies, FCI, NCMSL, Markfed and NBFC are the official agencies who would procure through their miller agents in the ‘mandies’. As yet, the Supply Corporation has procured only 7,797 MT of paddy followed by 4,800 MT by NAFED and 800 MT by primary agriculture societies. FCI, NCMSL, Markfed and NBFC have not procured any thing. The FCI, which has been allotted to procure paddy from eight ‘mandies’ has also not procured a single grain on the pretext that the paddy was not of FAQ standard.
The district administration has received complaints from farmers regarding millers buying paddy at low price through their agents. Bhawanipatna Central Co-operative Bank president Kali Prasad Raiguru alleged that due to failure of the government agencies, there is distress sale of paddy and farmers are being exploited. As against Rs 675 per 75 kg of paddy, farmers are being forced to sell the same at Rs 560, Raigurur alleged. Meanwhile, District Collector R. Santh Gopalan has directed the RMCs to look into the procurement process and cautioned that any laxity would be viewed seriously.
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