Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced the commencement of paddy procurement from tomorrow, with special arrangements made for farmers at mandis across the state.
Minister for Co-operation, Pradip Bal Samant, stated that the government has set a target to procure more paddy this year compared to the previous year.
Speaking to the media, the Minister said, “Special arrangements have been made for farmers at the mandis this time to ensure a smooth procurement process. Facilities such as food, beverages, and toilets have been arranged at the mandis. Mill owners have been instructed to ensure the timely arrival of vehicles to transport paddy. Officials have also been directed to keep a close watch on paddy procurement. Besides, the state government is keeping a close eye on the ‘katni chatni’ in paddy procurement.”
“The government has made it clear that it will take strict action against those found involved in malpractices. The procurement process will be closely monitored to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their produce”, he maintained.
Notably, 17.50 lakh farmers registered to sell paddy in the 2024-25 kharif season. However, this year, over 2 lakh farmers have registered, leading to an increase in the paddy procurement target. The target for paddy procurement has been set at 93 lakh metric tons for both kharif and rabi seasons.
The Food and Procurement Policy 2025-26 for the kharif season was approved by the Cabinet in October. The kharif paddy procurement period is from November 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
