Odisha to procure 60 lakh MT of paddy this year

Optimistic to set a record procurement of about 60 lakh metric tonne of paddy this year, Odisha government today said the rabi exercise would start from May 1.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare secretary P K Mohapatra said the state civil supplies corporation would go for the second phase of Rabi paddy procurement from May 1 till June 30. He said Rabi paddy would be procured from farmers of 19 districts.
"Odisha is going to procure record quantity of paddy this year. While total 42 lakh metric tonne (MT) paddy were collected during the Kharif season so far, an additional two lakh metric tonne paddy would be procured by the end of this month. It is targeted to procure total 60 lakh MT paddy, both kharif and rabi, this year," Mohapatra stated.

Mohapatra said the officials have been instructed to procure 26 quintals paddy per acre from three districts of Bargarh, Sambalpur and Subarnapur, while 24 quintals paddy per acre, would be collected from rest of districts.
At least two lakh MT paddy would be exported to four states every month, the Food Supplies Secretary said adding that 91,000 farmers have so far registered for the rabi paddy procurement.
Asked about the benefit given to the farmers, Chief Secretary A P Padhi said about Rs 6200 crore have been deposited in the bank account of farmers. "By end of the paddy procurement session (both kharif and rabi), farmers will get Rs 9,000 crore," Padhi said.