Berhampur: With the farmers community in Ganjam District expressing their resentment because of the slow procurement of paddy by the officials, Collector Vijay Amrit Kulange has asked the concerned officials to immediately fulfill the minimum procurement target by the mandis of the district. In a letter to the Mandis, the collector has said that the minimum target of 1000 quintals per day per mandi has to be achieved immediately and all efforts must be made in this regard. There have been allegations by farmers of unnecessary cuttings and expiry of tokens which caused them much difficulty in selling their grains.
Collector Kulange discussed the matter with the officials and directed them to look into the matter of vendor receipts, return of bags by farmers and the payment of transportation cost to farmers without delay. He warned that strict action will be taken against the concerned officials if the orders are not implemented.
The district administration has been continuously taking steps to streamline the paddy procurement process and help the farming community in selling their product with ease. All help is being provided to the farmers and efforts are on to see that farmers sell paddy without any delay. By 29th January 2022, 35 lakh 99 thousand quintals of paddy has been procured in the district. More than 1.22 lakh farmers have registered themselves with the government to sell their paddy. Only 39 thousand farmers have till date sold their paddy to the mandis.
According to the civil supplies department, about 58 percent paddy has been procured till date.