SAMBALPUR: With paddy procurement taking off at a sluggish pace the farmers of Sambalpur district are apprehensive of distress sale. One of the major procurement agencies - the Food Corporation of India (FCI) - is yet to begin the process. The State Government had decided to procure 1.97 lakh MT of rice from Sambalpur district for which, 2,89,706 MT of paddy needs to be lifted.While Orissa State Civil Supplies Corporation has been directed to procure 1,69,118 MT of paddy, FCI is supposed to lift 10,294 MT of paddy while Markfed and Nafed will procure 51,471 MT each. Besides, millers will procure 7,353 MT paddy against levy rice.As of now, FCI, Markfed and Nafed have not started procurement. Till December 3, other agencies have procured just 27,271 MT which is 9.41 per cent of the target. However, Sambalpur Food and Civil Supplies Officer Bijay Kumar Rath said FCI would begin procurement in the next couple of days.
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