Bhubaneswar, December 24: The paddy procurement process has been accelerated across the State during the current Kharif season. So far, 4,97,494 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from 1,11,128 farmers. An amount of approximately Rs 807 crore as Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Rs 249 crore as Input Assistance has been released to the farmers, said an official release on Wednesday.

At present, paddy procurement is in full swing in the districts of Bargarh, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Kalahandi, Boudh, Koraput, Jharsuguda, Nabarangpur, Subarnapur, Sundargarh, Ganjam, and Bolangir, it said.

“So far, 4,97,494 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from 1,11,128 farmers. This includes 1,79,526 MT from 40,162 farmers in Bargarh, 1,34,706 MT from 28,933 farmers in Sambalpur, 89,890 MT from 19,592 farmers in Kalahandi, and 57,178 MT from 13,540 farmers in Nuapada. An amount of approximately Rs 807 crore as Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Rs 249 crore as Input Assistance has been released to the farmers,” it added.

Procurement in the remaining districts will commence in a phased manner in due course, for which extensive preparatory arrangements are underway at the district level. Simultaneously, registered farmers are being provided with all relevant information, and tokens are being issued in advance.

Nodal officers deployed at each mandi are closely monitoring the procurement operations and ensuring smooth conduct of the process. Adequate facilities are being provided at the mandis for the convenience of farmers. The concerned officials are maintaining constant vigilance, as the State Government has taken steps to ensure that MSP is credited to farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours.