Nabarangpur: A meeting of the district-level paddy procurement committee was held in Nabarangpur under the chairmanship of District Collector Dr. Shubhankar Mahapatra. The meeting was attended by prominent figures such as Nabarangpur MLA Gauri Shankar Majhi, CDMO Biranchi Narayan Dar, District Council Chairman Prakash Kumar Mishra, Rajya Sabha MP Rabi Pattnaik, and Nabarangpur MLA Devadas Mahakud, among others.
The meeting, held in the Ashok Mehta Conference Hall, discussed the administrative steps to be taken for the procurement of paddy from the mandis starting from May 20, 2024. This will involve seven mandis across five blocks of the district. The District Collector emphasized the importance of ensuring necessary facilities for farmers during the paddy procurement process. These include drinking water arrangements, opening of mandis every day, electricity, tarpaulins, shelter, weighing machines, and other essential facilities.
The meeting also highlighted that during the previous kharif season (2024-25), a target of 25,78,447.76 quintals of paddy procurement was set, with 24,94,647.86 quintals being successfully procured, involving 40,359 farmers. For the ongoing 2023-24 rabi season, the target is 30,925.37 quintals, and 10,942.85 quintals have already been procured. Additionally, 1,052 farmers have registered for the 2024-25 rabi season.
The meeting was also attended by farmer representatives such as Jhadeswar Khadanga and Jagadish Chandra Bisoyi, and other key figures, including Milra President Pradeep Mishra and Editor Vishwambar Das, along with departmental officials and media representatives.