Odisha Sets Bumper Target For Paddy Procurement

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet on Thursday approved the food and procurement policy of the state government to procure 60 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of Kharif and Rabi paddy within the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2019-20.

The main features of the policy are:

Target

—A tentative target of 41 LMT in terms of rice has been fixed. In terms of paddy, this comes to around 60 LMT.

—For Kharif, the tentative target for procurement of paddy would be 50 LMT and for Rabi 10 LMT. There is no restriction for procurement of any higher quantum if more paddy comes to mandis (procurement centres) from registered farmers. The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare (FS & CW) Minister has been authorized to revise this target if needed.

— In  2018-19, the procurement of Kharif and Rabi was 65.49 LMT while in terms of rice, it was 44.42 LMT.

Procurement period

— While Kharif paddy will be procured from November 2019 to March 2020, the Rabi paddy will be procured from May to June 2020. The districts will schedule their procurement periods within these broad timelines. Last year, the time limit for Kharif procurement was till April-end.

Farmer registration

—Paddy will be procured from registered farmers in the online portal of FS & CW department. The farmers will have to provide the plot details for their registration. The plot details will be verified by integration with Bhulekh database maintained by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

—Aadhaar card shall be the only ID proof for a farmer to sell paddy.

—The procuring societies PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Society)/LAMPCS (Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS)/WSHGs (Women Self-Help Groups/Pani Panchayat) shall endeavour to bring more and more small and marginal farmers and actual tillers including sharecroppers into the procurement fold so that they receive the benefit of the minimum support price (MSP).

Emphasis on actual tillers including sharecroppers, small and marginal farmers

There would be no imposition on farmers to keep aside a certain portion of their produce for personal consumption needs. This will facilitate entry of more small and marginal farmers and actual tillers of soil including sharecroppers into the procurement fold.

Minimum Support Price (MSP)

Paddy will be procured as per MSP declared by the Centre. The MSP of common variety will be Rs 1815 per quintal and the Grade-A variety Rs 1835 per quintal.

Quality of paddy

—Paddy to be procured must conform to FAQ (Fair Average Quality) specifications declared by the Centre. Besides, rice to be delivered by custom millers must conform to the FAQ norm.

—Purchase of FAQ paddy at prices below MSP shall be punishable under the Essential Commodities Act- 1955.

—Wide publicity will be made for the farmers to bring FAQ paddy to the procurement centres.

Role of OSCSC and other agencies

The Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) will procure paddy in all districts. Besides, other state agencies, if necessary, will be deployed in rice-surplus districts only.

Role of PACS/LAMPCS/WSHGs/Pani Panchayats

—The Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) and other agencies shall procure through PACS/LAMPCS/WSHGs/Pani Panchayats.

—More WSHGs shall be engaged in paddy procurement operations.

Payment of farmers’ dues

—Payment of farmers’ dues on account of paddy sold shall be transferred directly to their bank accounts through online mode.

—All such payments shall be made within 24 to 48 hours of the sale of paddy.

Participation of millers

100% delivery of CMR (custom milled rice) of the previous year by the custom millers is a precondition for participation in procurement operations in 2019-20 KMS. Rice millers, who owe any dues to the state agencies, shall not be allowed to participate in the procurement process.

Evacuation of surplus rice

Odisha requires 24 LMT of rice for its public distribution system (PDS). Surplus rice will be delivered to the central pool through the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

P-PAS

Paddy procurement process in 310 procuring blocks will be conducted through Paddy Procurement Automation System (P-PAS). There is no procurement in four blocks in view of lack of marketable surplus. The P-PAS-based computerised procurement process will reduce human intervention and will make the whole process simple, hassle-free and transparent.

—Procurement operations shall be conducted on a real-time online basis in procuring societies (PACS/LAMPCS/WSHGs/Pani Panchayats) where stable net connectivity is available.

Distress sale

The District administration/state agencies shall take all necessary steps to prevent distress sale of paddy.