Farmers want relaxation in FAQ norm for paddy procurement

The farmers’ organisations in Orissa have urged the Naveen Patnaik government to purchase all type of paddies from the farmers, irrespective of their quality, at the minimum support price (MSP).

The paddy, which was saved from the untimely rains that lashed the state in the first week of December, is likely to be discoloured and would not fulfill the norms of the fair average quality (FAQ), prescribed by the government.

Like the Andhra Pradesh government, the Orissa government should procure all type of paddy from the farmers at the rate of MSP to alleviate their sufferings, farmers’ organisations like Rushikulay Rayat Mahasabah (RRM), Orissa Chasi Surakhya Abhiyan (OCSA) said. The N. Kiran Kumar Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh has announced on Friday to procure the discoloured paddy from the farmers. 

The state government, meanwhile, has requested the Center to relax FAQ norms for paddy procurement in the current kharif marketing season as the quality of paddy is likely to suffer due to the untimely rainfall. No response has been received from the Center yet, a senior officer said. Simanchal Nahak of RRS and Rabi Rath of OCSA in separate statements said, without waiting for the response of the Center, the state government should follow the path of Andhra Pradesh and declare to procure paddy of all qualities from the farmers at MSP rate.

“The farmers in the district, who suffered a huge crop loss due to the untimely rainfall, will get a great relief, if the government takes their paddy at MSP rate” Nahak said.