Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet today approved the Food and Procurement Policy for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24 to regulate all aspects of paddy and rice procurement.
KMS 2023-24 will commence on 1st October 2023 and conclude on 30th September 2024. The State Government will procure paddy during Kharif and Rabi seasons separately within the KMS.
Paddy will be procured from registered farmers by payment of Minimum Support Price (MSP). Paddy will be milled into rice by Custom Millers appointed for the purpose.
The rice so obtained will be utilized in State’s Public Distribution System (PDS) to meet requirements under National Food Security Act, State Food Security Scheme and other Welfare Schemes and the surplus rice will be delivered to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The surplus rice is evacuated by FCI to deficit States.
The main features of the Food and Procurement Policy for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24 approved by the Cabinet are as follow:
Target
A tentative target of 54 lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) in terms of rice has been fixed for KMS 2023-24. In terms of paddy this comes to around 79 LMT. For Kharif, the tentative target for procurement of paddy would be 65 lakh MT & for Rabi 14 lakh MT. There is no bar for procurement of any higher quantum if more paddy comes to mandis from registered farmers.
Minister, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare has been authorized to revise this target if the need so arises.
In KMS 2022-23 paddy to the tune of 79.16 LMT was procured (both Kharif and Rabi included). In terms of rice it comes to 53.57 LMT.
Procurement Period
- Paddy (Kharif Crop) will be procured in the State during the period from November 2023 to March 2024 and Paddy (Rabi Crop) from May to June 2024. Districts will schedule their procurement periods within these broad timelines.
Farmer Registration
- 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.
Validation of registered land through satellite imagery
- 100% field verification and validation of paddy growing areas through satellite imagery are being adopted 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 & CW Department.
Advance intimations to farmers for sale of paddy
- 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.
Emphasis on small and marginal farmers
- 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.
Minimum Support Price (MSP)
- Paddy will be procured as per MSP declared by Govt. of India at following rates:
Common variety: Rs.2183/- per quintal
Grade- A variety: Rs.2203/- per quintal
Quality of Paddy
- Paddy to be procured must conform to FAQ specifications declared by Govt. of India.
- 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.
Role of OSCSC and other agencies
- 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
- Payment of farmers’ dues on account of paddy sold to the Government shall be transferred directly to their bank accounts through online mode.
- All such payments shall be made within 24 to 48 hours of the sale of paddy.
Participation of Millers
- No rice miller who has any outstanding dues to be paid to a State Government agency on account of CMR delivery of KMS 2021-22 and earlier procurement seasons shall be allowed to participate In the procurement operation in KMS 2023-24.
Evacuation of Surplus Rice
- Odisha requires 24 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.
P-PAS
- Like in 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.
Distress Sale
- District Administration/ State agencies shall take all necessary steps to prevent distress sale of paddy.
