Bhubaneswar, Dec 26: The Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Krushna Chandra Patra, announced on Thursday that all District Collectors in Odisha have been directed to assess crop damage and determine which paddy will be eligible for procurement. Addressing the media, the Minister stressed the importance of adhering to the Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards set by the central government.

“These standards are crucial as the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will not accept paddy that fails to meet them, potentially causing further issues,” he explained. Minister Patra clarified that District Collectors have been empowered to decide on the extent of flexibility while ensuring maximum paddy procurement from farmers.

The Minister emphasized that while efforts will be made to accommodate farmers, fully damaged paddy cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

“District Collectors will receive clear guidelines on the permissible level of relaxation, but they will have the final authority to determine which paddy meets the criteria for purchase,” he added.

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