Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held a virtual meeting with District Collectors from Lok Seva Bhavan to review the preparations for the upcoming paddy procurement season, which is set to begin on November 20. Emphasizing a smooth and efficient process, the Chief Minister confirmed that all arrangements are in place to ensure fair and timely procurement.
The procurement will commence in Bargarh district on November 20, followed by Sambalpur on November 22, and then expand across all districts. Farmers will receive a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹2,300 per quintal from November 20 to December 7. Additionally, at a state-level farmers’ convention in Sohela, Bargarh, on December 8, the Chief Minister will announce an extra ₹800 per quintal, bringing the total to ₹3,100 per quintal. This supplemental amount, alongside the MSP, will be transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
In a bid to support small and marginal farmers, the government has initiated awareness programs to inform them about the procurement process. Enhanced measures, including Grain Analyzers, Quality Analysts, and Mandi Supervisors at procurement centers, will ensure the quality of paddy purchased. Token distribution will begin on November 15, with District Collectors authorized to extend the token period by up to seven days if needed.
To curb unauthorized entry of paddy from neighboring states, the Chief Minister instructed District Collectors to enhance monitoring along border areas. Additional steps include CCTV surveillance at procurement centers, enhanced border patrolling, and strict measures to prevent pilferage and loss.
Principal Secretary, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Sanjay Kumar Singh, and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Cooperation Department, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, briefed attendees on their departments’ initiatives. District Collectors also provided updates on district-level preparations.
Prominent attendees included Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, Cooperation, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee.
