Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will procure paddy from farmers at Rs 31,00 from the next kharif season, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said on Thursday.
The payment will be transferred to the farmers’ bank account within 48 hours of the procurement through DBT, Patra added.
To eliminate the present practice of ‘Katnai chhatni’, electronic weighing machines will be used in all mandis for the procurement of paddy. Exemplary action will be taken against those who were involved or insisted on the illegal practice, the minister added.
After the centre announced the MSP for paddy at Rs 2300 per quintal, it lessened the burden on the State. “We have to pay an additional Rs.800 towards procurement of paddy per quintal to the farmers,” Patra said.
As promised the first cabinet of the BJP government on June 12 had decided to implement Samrudha Krushak Niti within 100 days. Under the scheme, the MSP of paddy will be Rs 31,00 per quintal.
The BJP had contested the elections making paddy MSP as a major poll stunt. The party had also promised in its manifesto to hike the MSP to Rs 31,00 if voted to power.
