Farmers of south Orissa, particularly in the districts of Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput and Nowrangpur, are facing problems in selling their paddy and rice. The paddy crop in these districts was lashed by untimely rains during harvest, as a result of which the rice became fragile and discoloured.

Millers are complaining about the quality of non-FAQ rice and are not purchasing the paddy. They point out that the rice is not to the specification of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Finding no takers, the farmers are now selling their paddy at a lower price even incurring a huge loss.

Meanwhile, a one-man Central team, headed by HC Sirkar, regional director, ministry of foods, had toured the four worst affected districts ofundivided Koraput along with the FCI assistant manager (quality), BM Ghosh, and deputy director (quality), state food & civil supplies department, N Patnaik.

The team collected samples of paddy and rice and also gathered information at first hand from the affected farmers and millowners. Sirkar is expected to submit his report to the Government of India by this week.

"We are confident of getting a favourable response from the Government of India in this regard," the state chief secretary, SB Mishra, told The Financial Express. He hoped that since the Centre had already relaxed the quality norms in case of Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, it would be relaxed for Orissa too.

Last year, the Centre had relaxed the quality norms for whole of the state. This year, the state had requested to relax the norms further for procurement in the six southern districts only, sources in the state food & civil supplies department said. According to them, FCI has slowed down its procurement in these districts because ofthe poor quality of rice. Because of this the 500 and odd rice mills in south Orissa are now saddled with huge stock.

On an average about 30,000 tonnes of rice are procured every year from these six districts. It is likely to be 25 per cent less this year.

This year, the Government of Orissa has set a target of procuring 10 lakh tonnes of rice against 7.08 lakh tonnes last year. While 9 lakh tonnes would be procured through FCI, the remaining 1 lakh tonnes would be met by the state-owned Orissa Civil Supply Corporation. Bargarh and Sambalpur districts each are expected to contribute a maximum of 2 lakh tonnes this year. Till now, 1.5 lakh tonnes have already been procured in the state.