Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet has approved the Food and Procurement Policy for KMS (Kharif Marketing Season) 2024-25 to regulate all aspects of paddy and rice procurement.
The main features of the approved policy are as follows—-
A tentative target of 54 lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) in terms of rice has been fixed for KMS 2024-25. In terms of paddy this comes to around 80 LMT. For Kharif, the tentative target for procurement of paddy would be 66 lakh MT & for Rabi 14 lakh MT. There is no bar for procurement of any higher quantum if more paddy comes to Mandies from registered farmers.
A Cabinet Sub-Committee/ Group of Ministers shall review the implementation of the Policy and modify the overall target if, the need so arises.
Paddy (Kharif Crop) for KMS 2024-25 will be procured in the State from November 2024 to March, 2025 and Paddy (Rabi Crop) from May to June, 2025. Districts will schedule their procurement periods within these broad timelines.
Paddy will be procured from farmers who are registered in the online portal of FS & CW Department. Aadhaar shall be the only ID proof for a registered farmer to sell paddy to the Government. The sale of paddy is subject to Aadhaar-based biometric identification.
The Government has adopted 100% field verification and validation of paddy growing areas through satellite imagery to verify land details and paddy crop growing areas.
The authenticity of land details shall be verified in terms of modalities to be prescribed by FS and CW Department.
All registered and eligible farmers shall be intimated in advance by way of SMS to their mobile phones regarding date of sale of paddy and quantity to be sold.
Small and marginal farmers shall be accorded priority for sale of paddy to Government. There would be no imposition on farmers to keep aside a certain portion of their produce for personal consumption by their families. A registered farmer can sell his entire surplus, as per approved yield rate, to Government. This will facilitate entry of more small and marginal farmers into the procurement fold.
Paddy will be procured as per MSP declared by the Government of India at the following rates:
Common variety: Rs.2300/- per quintal
Grade- A variety: Rs.2320/- per quintal
Paddy to be procured must conform to FAQ specifications as declared by Centre. Similarly, rice to be delivered by custom millers must conform to FAQ norms. Similarly, rice to be delivered by custom millers must conform to FAQ norms.Purchase of FAQ paddy at prices below MSP shall be punishable under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Wide publicity will be made for farmers to bring FAQ paddy to procurement centres.
Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) will procure paddy in all districts. Role of PACS/LAMPCS/WSHGs/ Pani Panchayats. OSCSC shall procure through PACS/ LAMPCS/WSHGs/ Pani Panchayats. More WSHGs shall be engaged by districts in paddy procurement operations.
Payment of farmers’ dues on account of paddy sold to the Government will be transferred directly to their Bank accounts through online mode.
All such payments would be made within 24 to 48 hours of the sale of paddy. Rice Miller who has any outstanding dues to be paid to a State Government agency on account of CMR delivery of KMS 2022-23 and earlier procurement seasons shall not be allowed to participate in the procurement operation in KMS 2024-25.
Odisha requires 26 LMT of rice annually to meet its requirement under NFSA, State Food Security Scheme and Other Welfare Schemes like PM-POSAN (erstwhile MDM), SNP etc. Surplus rice will be delivered to Central Pool through the Food Corporation of India.
Like previous years, paddy procurement will be conducted on online platform through Paddy Procurement Automation System (P-PAS). PACS/ LAMPCS/ WSHGs/ Pani Panchayats will conduct paddy procurement operations through P- PAS. This will make the whole process simple, hassle-free and transparent.
District Administration and State agencies should take all necessary steps to prevent distress sale of paddy.
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