Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has increased its Kharif paddy procurement target from 65 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) to 77 LMT, ensuring wider participation from farmers and greater financial support. The decision was taken during a Group of Ministers’ meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo at Lok Seva Bhawan.
With the Minimum Support Price (MSP) set at ₹2,300 per quintal and an additional ₹800 per quintal as input assistance, more farmers have shown interest in selling their paddy. To date, the state has procured 46.36 LMT of paddy from 9.77 lakh farmers, disbursing nearly ₹10,000 crore as MSP and ₹3,500 crore as input assistance directly to their accounts.
Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, and Co-operation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta attended the meeting alongside Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and other senior officials.
Principal Secretary of the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Department, Sanjay Kumar Singh, presented the procurement status, highlighting improved measures to streamline the process. The government has deployed 3,883 nodal officers with CCTV monitoring at procurement centers (mandis) and formed 217 enforcement squads to prevent unauthorized paddy movement.
A dedicated Command Control Centre at the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation has been addressing grievances related to tokens, MSP payments, and input support. Over 4.15 lakh farmer calls have been received and resolved through the toll-free number 1967.
Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo emphasized that under the direct supervision of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the procurement process has become more transparent and efficient. He noted that senior officials and ministers are actively monitoring the process across districts, ensuring smooth operations. He also urged early preparations for Rabi season procurement.
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