Minister comes to rescue of K’handi paddy farmers

The Pioneer, Dec 23, 2009
PNS | Bhawanipatna

A sudden visit by the Minister of State for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Sarada Prasad Nayak to Kalahandi has cautioned the district officials to follow the procurement guidelines strictly in the 2009-10 Kharif season.

On Monday, the Minister made a surprise visit to the main mandi under Junagarh RMC after he was apprised by the farmers of their grievances against paddy procurement.

The farmers had apprised the Minister that despite delivering their paddy at the mandi, millers were not lifting the produce. In few places, the millers were directly lifting the produce from farmers’ houses. The Minister had strictly instructed the officials and millers to follow the guidelines so that farmers do not suffer anymore.

As the toll free number was not advertised in the mandi, the Minister directed the officials to install it immediately and requested all the farmers to call if they face any problem further. Later, the Minister also went to observe the ongoing process of fair average quality (FAQ) analysis of paddy in the nearest mandi of Mahichala, Charbahal and Koksara.

Apart from Labour and Employment Minister Pushpendu Singh Deo, district BJD president Kiran Chandra Singh Deo, Dharmagarh sub-collector Jagannath Mohanty, BCCB president Kaliprasad Raiguru and CSO Sibasankar Dora were also present.