Bhubaneswar, Dec 30 (IANS): The Odisha government Tuesday decided to build 6,000 concrete threshing floors for paddy, at a cost of Rs.544 crore, said a statement.
The threshing floors will be built in the coastal and paddy producing districts over the next three years. Priority will be given to 118 tribal dominated blocks.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday held a review meeting to improve the harvesting of paddy in the state that would raise FAQ (fair average quality) of paddy.
At least one threshing floor would be built in every panchayat, for which the legislators' local area development (MLALAD) fund may also be utilised.
As the Food Corporation of India (FCI) often refuses to lift paddy harvested in the state, citing its poor quality, the state hopes that the construction of threshing floors will help improving the FAQ of paddy.