Jeypore: The Rabi Paddy Procurement Market (Rabi Mandi) is now scheduled to open on June 5, as per an official communication from the District Collector. Earlier, during the District Procurement Meeting, it was decided to open the mandi on May 25. However, due to low-pressure induced rainfall and reports from the Agriculture Department regarding the paddy condition, the date has been postponed to June 5.
The Agriculture Department had provided a report indicating the possibility of moderate rainfall, prompting the delay. Notably, although the initial decision was to open the mandi on May 25, there were issues related to lack of agreement between the Supply Department and rice millers. District millers had expressed reluctance to participate under those conditions. As a result, millers from Balangir and other districts were expected to lift the paddy from this mandi.
However, the list of millers who would be lifting the paddy is still not finalized. Neither the names of millers and purchasing agencies nor their procurement targets have been clarified yet. Additionally, tokens have not been issued to farmers, which is another contributing reason for the postponement of the mandi opening.
Chief District Supply Officer Pradeep Kumar Panda confirmed these developments and reasons for the rescheduling.
In the earlier procurement meeting held on May 25, Kundura block was chosen as the location for initiating the mandi, assuming that the harvesting in that area was nearly complete. However, it has now been found that only about 20% of the paddy harvest has been completed in that block. The remaining harvest is expected to be completed in the coming two days.
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