Odisha to set up 3000 mandis for paddy procurement from

In a bid to stop distress sale of paddy due to drought condition in the state, Odisha government today announced to go for paddy procurement from November 15 at 3,000 mandis.
"I urge the farmers to bring their produce to the government procurement centres so that they are able to sell paddy at the MSP fixed by the government. I have received some complaints that in some cases farmers are directly selling to the millers. I would study these complaints," Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Sanjay Dasburma told reporters after a meeting with the farmers representatives and mill owners.

Stating that the government agencies would alone procure paddy this time, Dasburma said he instructed the department officials to consider the quality of paddy as this time paddy came out in the dry spell condition.
The Centre had earlier fixed the price of common paddy at Rs 1410 per quantal while the grade-A quality at Rs 1450 per quintal. The millers allegedly procure the paddy at much lower price.
The state government aims to procure 23 lakh MT of paddy during kharif and another 7 lakh MT during Rabi season this year and would revise the target if required, Dasburma said.

The minister said the amount for sale of paddy would be transferred directly to the bank accounts of farmers in 60 blocks. The facility would be extended to another 100 blocks to ensure that the farmers get their payment immediately.
Replying a question, the minister said the state government will write to the union government to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of the crops.