Bhubaneswar: In a major relief to the farmers, the state government has decided not to make Aadhaar number mandatory for farmers to participate in the paddy procurement process.

The government has given this directive in the wake of several farmers failing to register themselves to sell their paddy for not having Aadhaar Card.

The registrar of cooperative societies Wednesday asked all divisional deputy registrars of cooperative societies, assistant registrar of cooperative societies, District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and all other concern organization not to ask for Aadhaar number during the registration of farmers to participate in the paddy procurement process.

The food supplies and consumer welfare (FS&CW) department has also written a letter to all collectors in this regard.

“It has been the desire of the government to create a farmer database with their Aadhaar numbers to prevent entry of fake farmers into the paddy system. But, it has came to notice of government that genuine farmers without such a document may be put to difficulties and may resort to distress sale of paddy,” FS&CW secretary VV Yadav said in his letter to collectors.

Though Aadhaar number is not mandatory to participate in the process, the government has asked the collectors to encourage farmers to register their Aadhaar card numbers to prevent any duplicity.

Now, the farmers can register themselves for selling their paddy with Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) and Large Sized Agricultural Multi-purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS) by using voter identity card, Kissan Credit Card or Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (BKKY) Card, sources in the department said.

The state government has set a tentative target to procure about 53 lakh tonnes of paddy during Kharif and Rabi seasons of 2017-18. The paddy procurement, which has started on November 1, would continue in till April 2018 through 2,576 PACS.

FS&CW minister Surya Narayan Patro has said the proceeds of paddy sold to the state government will be credited to bank account of farmers within 24 hours of procurement. The minister informed the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy has been fixed at Rs 1,550 per quintal.

Meanwhile, the government has also the cooperative organizations to purchase paddy from the farmers on the same day of arrival. If in worst case if any paddy remains un-lifted, the officials asked to take remedial measures so that the farmers cannot face any problem.