Koraput, Nov 27: A district-level Kharif paddy procurement committee meeting was held at the Local Skill Development Training Centre conference hall in Koraput. The meeting was chaired by Koraput District Collector Manoj Satyavan Mahajan. Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi, Koraput MLA Raghuram Machha, Lakshmipur MLA Pavitra Sahoo, and Kotpad MLA Rupna Bhatra were among the key attendees.
The Collector announced that paddy mandis will open on 11 December. A total of 108 mandis will operate across the district—65 in the Koraput sub-division and 83 in the Jeypore sub-division. 44,104 farmers have registered to sell their paddy.
Members demanded that empty gunny bags and handling charges from previous procurement seasons be reimbursed to farmers. They also requested that infrastructure at all mandis be strengthened. CCTV cameras will be installed at each mandi to closely monitor the activities of middlemen.
To ensure transparency, nodal officers and supervisors have been appointed for mandi operations. The Collector said that within the next seven days, BDOs and Tehsildars must inspect the women’s SHGs and submit reports. RMC has already started work on developing mandi infrastructure.
Among others present were Jeypore Sub-Collector Akrabaram Shasya Reddy, Additional District Magistrate Tapan Kumar Nayak, Chief District Agriculture Officer, Deputy Chairperson of the Zilla Parishad Radha Binod Samantaray, various officials, and farmers. The meeting was conducted by Chief District Supply Officer Manas Ranjan Mahapatra.
Zilla Parishad Chief Development Officer and Executive Officer Benudhar Sabar offered the vote of thanks.
The Koraput District Farmers’ Welfare Forum submitted a memorandum to Collector Manoj Satyavan Mahajan. Forum editor Narendra Kumar Pradhan said the demands were officially placed before the administration. After the meeting, the Collector reportedly held further discussions with farmer leaders regarding their demands.
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