Bhubaneswar, Sep 21 (IANS) The Orissa government has tentatively decided to procure 2.2 million tonnes of rice during the 2007-08 kharif season.
Agriculture Minister Surendra Nath Nayak told IANS that according to preliminary estimates, over 6.6 million tonnes of paddy would be produced in Orissa during that period.
In the last kharif season, the agriculture department had sent a proposal for procurement of two million tonnes of rice, which was revised to 2.2 million tonnes by the cabinet.
In the meanwhile, the central government has increased the procurement price by Rs.65 a quintal.
In 2006-07 the price of common paddy was fixed at Rs.580 per quintal. For 2007-08 the price has been fixed at Rs.645 a quintal for common paddy and Rs.665 a quintal for “A-grade” paddy.