Paddy Procurement Yet to Begin in 12 Districts

ddy procurement, small and marginal farmers in need of immediate cash have resorted to distress sales in several districts. The middlemen engaged by private millers are alluring farmers to sell their paddy crops below the MSP to get cash immediately once the crops are harvested. Those resorting to distress sales are usually small and marginal farmers. They are under pressure to repay borrowed money invested in the cultivation of paddy and meddilemen are taking its benifit. Touts reach at the poor farmers with cash once their crops reach harvesting stages. Once the crops are harvested, the farmers cannot wait for long to get better prices and hence, start selling paddy to meet their payment obligations. According to Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department, The paddy procurement is yet to begin in Bhadrak, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, Khordha, Nayagarh, Puri and Rayagada. Notably, the government has increased the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy for the benefit of the farmers. The cost of one quintal paddy has been set at Rs 2183 and that of Agrade quality at Rs 2203. The MSP has been hiked Rs 143 for general paddy and Rs 137 for Agrade compared to last year.

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