102 women SHGs start paddy procurement in Ganjam dist

Berhampur: The much-awaited paddy procurement process began in Ganjam district on Wednesday. More number of women self-help groups (WSHG) than last year have been deployed in the work this year.
Altogether 102 WSHGs with over 1,000 workers - the highest in the state - have been engaged in the procurement activities. Last year, 64 WSHGs had worked in the procurement process in the state.
“Last year, they had done well in procuring crops across the district.Considering their past experience, we have engaged more WSHGs this time in the procurement process,” said Ganjam collector Vijay Amruta Kulange, who has initiated the process of procurement at Pochilima, Hinjili block.
“We have imparted a three-round training to the WSHG members, engaged in the procurement activities. They will verify the quality of the paddy and procure from farmers and disburse to millers,” said deputy register of the cooperative society Biswa Ranjan Das.
The SHGs will get a commission of Rs 32.25 per quintal for the work, sources said.
Besides the WSHGs, 383 primary agriculture cooperative societies and one pani panchayat have also been engaged in the procurement process, added Das. After verification, 1.22 lakh farmers across the district have shown interest to supply the paddy.
“The government has set a target of 36.04 lakh quintals to procure from the farmers in the first phase. Last year, they had procured over 45 lakh quintals of paddy. The government was likely to increase the target,” said chief civil supply officer Pusha Munda.
They have targeted to open 470 mandis (procurement centres) across the district to facilitate the farmers. On the first day, they have opened at least one such centre in each block, added Munda.
Meanwhile, the farmers’ organisations have demanded the quality norms of the paddy to be relaxed this time as farmers across the district suffered due to unseasonal rains in the first week of December. “The harvested paddy in some areas has become discoloured due to waterlogging followed by rain. We want the government to procure the entire paddy from the farmers, irrespective of its quality,” said Simanchal Nahak, secretary, Rushikulya Rait Maha Sabha.