Bhubaneswar, Oct 11 (Odisha.in) Orissa government Thursday announced rice procurement policy for the new food year -2007-08 which commenced from first October to avoid distress sale and to ensure the farmers the minimum support price.
It has been targeted to procure an estimated 25 lakh MT in terms of rice of which government agencies like FCI and state owned civil supply corporations have been asked to contribute 23 lakh MT while Rice Millers have been told to procure two lakh MT of rice, said Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Manmohan Samal.
Announcing the New procurement policy Thursday here, Samal said from the current food year, it has been decided to procure Maize and Ragi through government agencies for the first time.
While NAFED has been authorised to procure Maize, the civil supply corporation has been given the charge to purchase ragi from the farmers. The Purchase rice of Maize and Ragi has been fixed at Rs.620 and Rs.600 per quintal respectively.
Similarly per quintal price of rice has been fixed at Rs.695, the Grade –A-variety rice being Rs.725 per quintal, he said.
He admitted that though last year the procurement of rice was fixed at 22 lakh MT, By the end of the September 2007, there was a short fall of around 2 lakh MT.
The Minister said that the farmers would be paid instantly through Account Payee cheques for their product adding that this year to facilitate farmers, it has been decided to open zero based accounts in nationalized banks, cooperative Banks and rural banks in respect of the farmers intending to sale paddy.
This time the share croppers would be provided with Farmers” identity cards to Sale their paddy/rice.
Odisha.in