Orissa targets 22 lakh tonnes rice procurement

Bhubaneswar,Sep 28 (UNI) Notwithstanding the devastating floods that played havoc in 27 districts in Orissa, the state government today announced 22 lakh tonnes rice procurement target during 2006-2007.

Orissa Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal told newsmen that despite the floods wrecking havoc in many districts,the preliminary report from the Agriculture Department suggested that there would be a bumper rice production of nearly 66 lakh tonnes.

Last year the state had produced 58 lakhs tonnes of rice and the procurement was 18 lakh tonnes as against the target of 22 lakh tonnes.

Mr Samal said this year the government had decided to procure a major amount of its target through seven government agencies by setting up 210 points across the state.

With the subsidy of Rs 40, the government he said had fixed the minimum support price for FAQ rice per quintal at Rs 620 while that of A grade rice at Rs 650.00.

The Revenue Minister said the state run Civil Supply Corporation would enter in a big way to procure rice from the farmers compare to the previous year. Last year the Corporation had procured 3.85 lakh tonnes but this year the procurement would be nearly 6 lakh tonnes.

He said the government has decided to reduce the procurement target by the miller agents and give more emphasis to the government agencies.The miller agents would be asked to procure 6 lakh tonnes rice while the rest 16 lakh tonnes would be procured by the seven government agencies.

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