Govt to come up with potato policy to make Odisha self-reliant: Min | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Friday said the govt will come up with a policy to become self-sufficient in potato production and won’t depend on other states for supply.
“We are planning to frame a policy to make Odisha self-reliant in potato production. After successfully implementing the plan, we will not depend on other states for potato supply. We will definitely succeed,” he added.
Odisha mostly depends on neighbouring West Bengal for potato supply. If the supply gets affected due to different reasons, the price surges in Odisha markets.
In 2015, the then BJD govt launched the Potato Mission. But it could not take off due to the absence of cold storage facilities and lack of support for farmers.
Patra said paddy procurement work is going on smoothly. All mandis have been opened for procurement and govt has procured 23 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, he added.
“Except for stray incidents, including one at Cuttack, most places witnessed smooth procurement of paddy. Some people are instigating the farmers that the govt will procure paddy of any quality. But fair average quality (FAQ) of paddy matters during procurement,” he added.
He said damaged paddy cannot be procured at Rs 3,100 per quintal. “If the colour of paddy has changed a little bit due to unseasonal rain, we can manage. But they cannot sell damaged paddy of poor FAQ because Food Corporation of India (FCI) will not purchase it. Even the rice cannot be sold in the market,” he added.
The minister said the govt is paying compensation for damaged crops. “If the govt pays compensation for crop loss, how can it procure the damaged paddy? The farmer is already compensated. I request farmers to bring paddy of good FAQ grade and get the money within 24 hours,” he added.
“We are planning to frame a policy to make Odisha self-reliant in potato production. After successfully implementing the plan, we will not depend on other states for potato supply. We will definitely succeed,” he added.
Odisha mostly depends on neighbouring West Bengal for potato supply. If the supply gets affected due to different reasons, the price surges in Odisha markets.
In 2015, the then BJD govt launched the Potato Mission. But it could not take off due to the absence of cold storage facilities and lack of support for farmers.
Patra said paddy procurement work is going on smoothly. All mandis have been opened for procurement and govt has procured 23 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, he added.
“Except for stray incidents, including one at Cuttack, most places witnessed smooth procurement of paddy. Some people are instigating the farmers that the govt will procure paddy of any quality. But fair average quality (FAQ) of paddy matters during procurement,” he added.
He said damaged paddy cannot be procured at Rs 3,100 per quintal. “If the colour of paddy has changed a little bit due to unseasonal rain, we can manage. But they cannot sell damaged paddy of poor FAQ because Food Corporation of India (FCI) will not purchase it. Even the rice cannot be sold in the market,” he added.
The minister said the govt is paying compensation for damaged crops. “If the govt pays compensation for crop loss, how can it procure the damaged paddy? The farmer is already compensated. I request farmers to bring paddy of good FAQ grade and get the money within 24 hours,” he added.
