No large scale distress sale of paddy, Odisha tells CACP

Odisha has denied any instance of large scale distress sale of paddy, maintaining that the government has taken steps like opening of maximum purchase centres and involved women self-help groups (WSHGs) to arrest distress sale.

In a reply to the Commission for Agricultural Cost & Prices (CACP), the state agriculture department said, “There is no instance of large scale distress sale (of paddy) by the farmers in Odisha. The state government has taken various steps to avoid distress sale of paddy such as opening of maximum purchase centres, involvement of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), WSHGs and pani panchayats in paddy procurement operation as commission agent of state procuring agencies.”

The CACP had enquired if there were recent instances of large scale distress sale by the farmers and steps taken by the state government to arrest such distress sale.

The Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) has opened 2,448 purchase centres while Marketing Federation Ltd (Markfed) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) have opened 116 and 75 centres respectively. Food Corporation of India (FCI) has established 20 centres whereas Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha Ltd (TDCC) has set up 43 centres.

Farmers have to register with the societies at least seven days in advance along with the proposed quantity of FAQ (fair average quality) paddy to be sold, proof of identity and savings bank account of any commercial, rural or cooperative bank. The societies will allot date to the farmers to bring FAQ paddy to paddy procurement centres so as to regulate the flow of paddy.

The state government recently faced heat from the Opposition Congress in the assembly over distress sale of paddy. Congress MLA Anup Kumar Sai had alleged that farmers were forced to sell paddy in the price range of Rs 800-900 per quintal against the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1310 per quintal for common grade and Rs 1,345 per quintal for better grade rice.

This was due to non-opening of mandis by the government, he pointed out. Pratap Keshari Deb, minister for civil supplies, had rubbished the allegations, saying the government has opened mandis in six districts- Bargarh, Boudh, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Nuapada and Subarnapur.