Berhampur, Nov 20: The paddy procurement for the ongoing Kharif season will begin from December 23 in Ganjam district, Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida said.
The announcement came following a district-level meeting attended by both the MPs, local MLAs and officials on Tuesday.
The district administration has set a target to procure 4,48,176 quintals of paddy this year and 1,46,504 farmers have registered to take part in the process, said a senior official adding that they have chalked out plans to prevent distress sale by farmers this time.
The procurement will be done through 481 mandis, 362 PACS, 118 women SHGs and one pani panchayat, the official added.
As many as 16 women SHGs, against whom allegations of mismanagement were levelled last year, have been excluded from the procurement process this time, district chief civil supplies officer Puspa Munda said.
