Berhampur: The number of farmers, who have registered under the paddy procurement automation system (P-PAS) in Ganjam district, has come down drastically compared to the previous year, apparently due to COVID-19.
According to district administration sources, 1,03,909 farmers have registered under P-PAS this year accounting for 77 per cent of 1,34,462 of the last year.
The state government would procure the excess kharif paddy from the farmers from last week of January to March 31. The district administration has made adequate arrangements to procure paddy from the registered farmers, the sources said.
In many blocks of the district, the number of registered farmers is not so encouraging due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sources said. The block officials have been asked to expedite the process within three days.
District collector Vijay Amrit Kulange has appealed to the farmers to register themselves by August 31. He has also asked the Block Development Officers (BDOs), tehsildars, Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies (ARCS) and others to motivate the farmers to opt for registration and strictly maintain social distance during the entire process.
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