Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday held a state-level review meeting on procurement of Rabi paddy for the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025-26 under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anu Garg at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.
The meeting reviewed preparations for the upcoming Rabi paddy procurement process and discussed measures to ensure smooth collection operations across the state. Principal Secretary of the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department Sanjay Kumar Singh, Cooperative Commissioner and Secretary Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Registrar of Cooperative Societies Manish Agarwal, senior departmental officials and district collectors, who joined virtually, attended the meeting.
Officials informed the meeting that during the 2024-25 Kharif procurement season, over 18.60 lakh farmers sold paddy and around 73.16 lakh metric tonnes of paddy were procured. In the current Kharif Marketing Season 2025-26, procurement has increased to 77.48 lakh metric tonnes, with 18.84 lakh farmers participating, registering a growth of 5.48 per cent over the previous year.
The meeting was also informed that 3,75,556 farmers from 20 districts have registered for Rabi procurement in 2025-26, compared to 3,38,481 farmers during the previous season.
While the Rabi paddy procurement period has been scheduled from May 1 to June 30, district-level procurement committees have fixed collection dates beginning May 14 in different districts.
The Chief Secretary stressed that small, marginal and genuine farmers, including sharecroppers, should receive the benefits of the procurement process. Procurement will be carried out in accordance with the food procurement policy approved by the state cabinet for KMS 2025-26.
Officials said the procurement exercise would be conducted in coordination with departments including Revenue, Cooperation, Police, Transport, Agriculture and Food Supplies at the district level. Enforcement officers will regularly monitor procurement activities, while strict vigil will be maintained at interstate borders to prevent illegal inflow of paddy from outside Odisha.
A total of 2,472 mandi nodal officers have been deployed across districts for procurement management. Managing Director of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy presented details of the procurement mechanism and operational procedures during the meeting.
District administrations have been directed to ensure adequate infrastructure at procurement centres, including tarpaulin arrangements, shelters, drinking water facilities and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance systems. A district control room will also be linked with the state headquarters for monitoring purposes.
The meeting further highlighted strengthening of the grievance redressal mechanism through coordination with the Control and Command Centre (CCEC). Farmers will receive information and updates through call centres, mobile messaging services and the 1967 toll-free helpline.
In view of the possibility of an early monsoon this year, district collectors have been advised to make extensive arrangements to protect procured paddy from rain and moisture damage.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg directed officials to ensure transparent and efficient procurement strictly in accordance with government guidelines and warned of strict action against officials, cooperative societies, millers or others found involved in irregularities or unfair practices. She also called for further strengthening of institutional mechanisms to streamline the paddy procurement process in the state.
