Bhubaneswar: The State Government has made an all-time record by procuring 51.44 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy during the 2018-19 Kharif season against the last record of 43.86 lakh MT procured in 2016-17.
It was revealed at a review meeting of the Paddy Procurement Committee held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi here on Saturday.
The committee apprised the Chief Secretary that a target has been set to procure 11 lakh MT of paddy during the current Rabi season and, by now, 1.48 lakh MT has already been collected from farmers.
Padhi directed the officers to make the entire paddy procurement process online and ensure payment in farmers’ accounts within two days of procurement.
It was revealed that a total of Rs 9,002.15 crore has been paid to farmers through their accounts as purchase price of 51.44 lakh MT.
The Chief Secretary directed officers to expedite the process of procurement of rice from the millers.
Among others, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Secretary Sourabh Garg, Finance Secretary AK Meena, Panchayati Raj Secretary Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, Cooperation Secretary Kissan Kumar and Information and Public Relations Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh were present.
