Bhubaneswar: A total of 11,56,130 farmers have registered themselves to take part in kharif paddy procurement scheduled to start from November 1 across the State. This was informed by Food Supplies and Cooperation Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain today.

He further said hearing of farmer grievances will be conducted from September 22 to 29 in all the districts. During the process, grievances of farmers’ organisation and individual farmers will be addressed.

Responding to a query on price hike of onion in the State, the Minister said the government is fully aware of the situation. “Due to flood in Nashik of Maharashtra, there has been an increase in prices of onion in Odisha. This issue will be for a brief period,” added Swain.

Worth mentioning, onion is being sold at Rs 40 per kg these days as compared to Rs 24/kg a month back in the State. Usually Odisha fulfils most of its onion requirement through imports from other States like Maharashtra.