Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
The paddy procurement process in Udham Singh Nagar district has been marred by significant delays and technical issues. As of October 1, 214 purchase centers operated by Food, UCF, and NCCF were opened across the district. However, after ten days, procurement has only progressed nominally, with only 1,494.40 quintals of paddy purchased from just 22 farmers.
The sluggish pace of procurement can be attributed to a technical fault in the purchase portal located in Kichha, which has hampered the process. “There was a technical fault in the purchase portal in Kichha,” reported Additional District Cooperative Officer Naval Sharma. This issue has resulted in farmers facing challenges at the centers, with only a minimal amount of paddy weighed and registered.
Purchases have only taken place at one center each in Khatima and Sitarganj, while the Bajpur Pratham center has also recorded only a nominal amount. The highest volume of paddy, approximately 669.6 quintals, was purchased in Kichha. However, on Wednesday, the portal experienced further technical glitches, exacerbating the procurement delays. Although Sharma managed to weigh the paddy brought by farmers, the purchases could not be officially recorded on the portal.
The Cooperative Department mandates that all paddy purchases must be marked online. Farmers are facing difficulties registering on the Food Department’s portal, further complicating the situation. “Farmers are waiting to sell their paddy at the centers due to the ongoing portal issues,” noted a local farmer.
In response to the growing concerns, District Magistrate Udayraj Singh conducted a review of the procurement process. He directed the SDM, Mandi Secretaries, and Center Administrators to ensure robust arrangements for paddy purchases. Singh emphasized, “The problem in the purchase at the paddy center should be resolved immediately by discussing it at a high level.”
Rudrapur SDM Manish Bisht acknowledged that the quantity of paddy arriving at the centers has been low, which has delayed the weighing process. Tehsildar Pankaj Chandola inspected several procurement centers in Kashipur, monitoring the arrangements at the grain market and the Kunda area.
Despite the setbacks, officials have assured that offline procurement is being conducted to prevent farmer hardships. “Paddy purchase will not be allowed to be affected,” affirmed Sharma, adding that measures are being implemented to rectify the technical issues promptly.
