State agencies yet to lift rabi paddy

Expressbuzz, June 22, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: Farmer of Kalahandi are a harassed lot. Different state agencies are yet to procure rabi paddy and this has resulted in distress sale in various parts of the district. In many pockets of Indravati ayecut area, nearly 50,000 metric tonnes (mt ) of harvested paddy are lying unsold.

According to reports, so far Orissa Supply Corporation (OSC), Markfed and Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society have only procured 1,36,450 mt of paddy.

While the OSC has procured 1,04,469 mt , Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society 9,157 and Markfed has procured 23,023 quintals of paddy.

Whereas Food Corporation of India (FCI), Nafed, TDCC, NCMSL and NBHC are yet to begin procurement. Sources said the FCI has 73,500 mtmt capacity godowns at Kesinga, Bhawanipatna, Dharamgarh, Junagarh and Jaipatna but as these godowns are full, the agency has stopped further procurement. Similarly, the 42,717 mtmt capacity godowns of the CSC are full with kharif paddy. Besides, millers attached with the CSC have stored 1,50,000 quintals of paddy in their godowns.

Meanwhile, the district administration conducted a review meeting of paddy procurement recently and urged the FCI to empty the godowns. To combat the situation, the administration directed CSC and Nafed to procure all the remaining paddy from farmers so that the stocks are cleared before the onset of monsoon.