NO DISTRESS SALE OF PADDY IN ORISSA
No report of distress
sale of paddy, conforming to Fair Average Quality (FAQ) specifications,
has been received by the Government from Orissa during the current
Kharif Marketing Season 2002-2003.
Grameen Bhandaran
Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme of Capital Investment Subsidy
for construction/renovation/expansion of Rural Godowns is being
implemented through National Bank of Agriculture & Rural Development
(NABARD) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
Under the Yojana, NABARD has sanctioned 995 projects with a total
capacity of 59.29 lakh tonnes and NCDC has sanctioned 1575 projects
with a capacity of 7.42 lakh tonnes as on 31.3.2003. Rural Godowns
constructed under the Yojana will provide the farming community
with the facility for scientific storage and enable it to avail
pledge loan to meet its credit requirement without being compelled
to sell the produce at a time when prices are low.
In order to reduce
the hardship of farmers and to avoid distress sale of paddy, the
specifications for procurement of paddy in Orissa have since been
relaxed by the Government with effect from 11.6.2003 during the
current Kharif Marketing Season. The FCI has also opened 20 centres
in the State for procurement of paddy and has so far procured
497 tonnes of paddy.
This information
was given in Rajya Sabha today by the Minister of State for Consumer
Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri V. Subhash Maharia
in a written reply.
