Odisha: Show cause notices issued to 11millers for slow lifting of paddy from mandis

Ganjam district administration issued show cause notices to at least 11 millers on Wednesday for allegedly slow lifting of paddy from different mandis (paddy procurement centres). The show cause notices were issued to four millers each in Ganjam and Chhatrapur blocks and three in Purushottampur block, sources said.

A total of 361 millers registered to lift the paddy from the mandis this year. “We issued notices to 11 millers for their slow pace of lifting the paddy,” said Pusha Mund, chief civil supply officer (CCSO) of Ganjam district.

The paddy procurement in the district started on Jan 3 and targeted to procure around 44.81 lakh quintals of paddy in the first phase. In the last 20 days, the district administration procured over 11.30 lakh quintals of paddy.”The slow pace of procurement was due to the testing of the quality of the paddy at the mandis. In several places, the farmers demanded the purchase of their paddy regardless of the quality. It was one of the causes for hampering the procurement process,” said an officer with anonymity, who was engaged in the procurement process.

“The slow pace of procurement was due to the testing of the quality of the paddy at the mandis. In several places, the farmers demanded the purchase of their paddy regardless of the quality. It was one of the causes for hampering the procurement process,” said an officer with anonymity, who was engaged in the procurement process.The CCSO, however, said the procurement increased after the Makara Sankranti festival. He said almost 478 mandis have been opened in the district.

The paddy procurement has been done through 111 women self-help groups (WSHG) and 366 primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS). Over 1.46 lakh farmers registered this year to sell the paddy in the mandis.He said there are two check posts set up on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border at Girishola and Nuagaon to check the entry of paddy from the neighbouring state. At least two camera-mounted vehicles are patrolling the border areas.

Simanchal Nahak, secretary of Rushikulya Rait Mahasabha, a farmers’ organisation in the district, said huge quantities of paddy were moisturised and discoloured due to the untimely rains in Dec and the millers could not lift these paddy. “We have demanded the govt purchase all the paddy from the farmers,” he said.

This article has been republished from The Times of India.