Bhubaneswar: Odisha has stepped up the farmer registration process for the upcoming Kharif paddy procurement season, with more than 5.5 lakh farmers having registered so far, according to the state government.
The registration drive, which is being conducted across the state, will continue until August 31, 2026. Registration is currently underway at Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), Large Area Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS) and Pani Panchayats.
Officials said the process has gathered pace, with nearly one lakh farmers registering every day. Registration is being carried out in all districts to ensure that eligible farmers can participate in the upcoming paddy procurement process.
Among the districts, Bargarh has recorded around 60,000 farmer registrations, followed by Balasore with 43,000 and Kalahandi with around 40,000. Puri has registered approximately 24,000 farmers so far.
The registration process is being conducted through 2,907 PACS and four Pani Panchayats across the state.
Necessary arrangements have been made at PACS to facilitate farmers during registration. Under the system, farmer details are being registered on a real-time basis, while applicants can verify the information entered before submitting their applications online.
Dedicated help desks have also been established at the societies to assist farmers with the registration process and address difficulties they may face.
The authorities have urged farmers to carefully check their details before final submission to avoid errors that could affect their participation in the procurement process.
The registration exercise is being undertaken through coordination among the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Cooperation Department, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, and Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
The government has also provided a dedicated helpline for farmers seeking information or assistance. Farmers can call the toll-free number 1967 for queries related to the registration process.
The ongoing exercise is aimed at ensuring that eligible farmers are registered well ahead of the Kharif paddy procurement season and that the procurement process can be carried out smoothly across the state.
