Sambalpur: The procurement of paddy crop for the current kharif season will start from 5 November from Kalahandi and Bargarh districts. This year, the tentative production has been estimated to be 55 lakh metric tonnes.
As per the Agricultural Department, this year paddy was grown over 1,92,892 hectares in the current season. Farmers will be paid as per their paddy within 48 to 72 hours of sale.
The district administration of both the districts have made adequate arrangement for farmer-friendly and systematic sale of paddy.
Regulated Marketing Committees (RMCs) and Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS) will provide required infrastructure facilities to the farmers in the paddy purchasing centres. Temporary storage space, resting sheds, polythene sheets for paddy, and drinking water facilities will be provided.
There will be monitoring team at each of the paddy purchasing centres to restrict involvement of any middleman.
A high-level meeting was headed by Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Department Minister Surjya Narayan Patra at Sambalpur regarding this.