JEYPORE: The district administration has allowed millers from Balangir to procure rabi paddy from Koraput farmers. The measure was taken ostensibly due to lack of paddy drying machines with the local millers. Sources said moisture content in the paddy had gone up due to untimely rains in the last few days. Apprehensive of damage or germination of the paddy stocks, not many local millers are coming forward to procure paddy. Last week, just five millers owning drying machines came forward to participate in procurement process as a result of which, large quantities of the harvested paddy is lying dumped in different villages. This season, 50,000 acres under Upper Kolab project were cultivated for paddy. The District Civil Supplies Department had decided to procure 22,000 metric tonnes of paddy and accordingly, 14 mandis have been opened from June 10 for procurement.In the last 15 days, around 25,000 metric tonnes of paddy was procured by various agencies.However, after low pressure-induced rains lashed the district a few days back, moisture content increased in the paddy and subsequently, millers stopped the procurement citing lack of drying machines to dry up the stocks.To tide over the situation, the Civil Supplies Department allowed millers of Balangir to procure paddy from Koraput on Saturday.
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