Farmers resent slow paddy procurement

Expressbuzz, Nov 23, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: Resentment is brewing among the farmers of Kalahandi over tardy progress of paddy procurement in the current kharif season.For 2009-2010, it was targeted to procure 3,82,352 MT of paddy from Kalahandi of which, about 2 lakh MT was targeted to be procured during current kharif season and the rest in rabi. Bulk of the produce was expected from the farmers of Indravati ayacut areas.As per the State Government, procurement was channelised through primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) in 77 centres across the district.The PACS would act as commission agents for procurement of paddy from farmers on behalf of the Orissa Civil Supplies Corporation (OCSC).It was decided that the OCSC would lift the stock from PACS through custom millers and the procurement would begin by November 10. However since then, procurement has been on at a snail’s pace.Although 64 rice mills of the district have so far signed an agreement with the Civil Supplies Corporation to act as custom millers but till date, only 19 millers have participated in lifting of 909 MT of paddy through the PACS. Besides, FCI has so far procured just 400 MT of paddy from nine centres.Sources alleged that most of the rice millers who had agreed to act as custom millers of OCSC are avoiding participation disrupting procurement process.Recently, the Managing Director of Civil Supplies Corporation Suresh Kumar Basistha visited various pockets under Indravati ayacut area to take stock of the situation. Department sources said Basistha was critical of the defaulting rice mills and advised the district administration to tag rice mills of the neighbouring districts in the procurement process if the problem continued.He asked PACS to start procurement as per the terms of the agreement with OCSC. He also directed OCSC to open at least one mandi in each block for smooth procurement.Sources said most of the PACS lack basic infrastructure for storage, weighing, cleaning and moisture testing facilities.Farmer leader and president of Charbahal PACS Anil Nanda said the custom millers should be warned of action if they don’t join procurement process in the PACS at the earliest.