Bhubaneswar: Odisha Cabinet on Thursday approved Food and Procurement policy for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2019-2020. Kharif Crop will be procured during the period between this November and March next and Ragi crops to be procured between May to June next year. Last year the time limit for Kharif procurement was till April end.
The Government of Odisha has set a target of procuring 60 lakh metric tonnes of paddy In Kharif Marketing Season 2019-20, informed Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy on Thursday.
In the policy, a tentative target of 41 lakh metric tonne in terms of rice has been fixed for the season which in terms of paddy comes to around 60 lakh metric tonne-50 lakh metric tonne for Kharif and 10 lakh metric tonne for Rabi.
Farmers were earlier registered through the online portal of FS & CW Department. Aadhaar will be the only ID proof for a farmer to sell paddy crops to the government. Procuring societies will endeavor to bring more and more small and marginal farmers into the procurement fold. Moreover, sale of paddy shall be effected subject to Aadhaar based identification.
The crops will be procured by the government as per the Minimum Support Price (MSP) declared by centre. The MSP for common variety is set at Rs. 1815 per quintal and for Grade – A variety is Rs. 1835 per quintal.
The procured paddy must conform to FAQ specifications declared by centre. Purchase of paddy below MSP will be a punishable offence under Essential Commodities Act – 1955.
Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation along with other agencies PACS, LAMPCS, WSHGs and Pani Panchayats will procure paddy in all the districts of the state.Payments to the farmers will be made within 48 hours of the sale of crops to the government directly to their bank accounts.
As Odisha requires 24 LMT of rice for its PDS, the surplus amount will be delivered to central pool.
