Bhubaneswar: An inter-ministerial review meeting was held at Lok Seva Bhawan on Monday under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo to assess the Rabi paddy procurement for the 2024–25 season.
The meeting highlighted that procurement has surpassed expectations, with 19 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy procured against the initial target of 14 LMT.
Today marks the final day of Rabi procurement. Compared to last year’s procurement of 12 LMT, this season has seen a record high, reflecting the state’s continued support to farmers.
Odisha remains the only state in the country offering Rs 3,100 per quintal for Rabi paddy—combining both the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and input assistance—under the ‘Samruddh Krushak Yojana’.
To ensure transparency and curb the influx of paddy from neighboring states, the government announced the rollout of an e-KYC system for farmers. This move aims to streamline beneficiary identification and prevent malpractice. A new policy on paddy procurement is also under consideration.
During the meeting, officials reported that Odisha has produced 93 LMT of paddy this year, including both Kharif and Rabi crops. From this, approximately 63 LMT of rice is expected, significantly exceeding the state’s domestic requirement of 27 LMT. The surplus has prompted the government to explore alternative utilisation strategies, including the production of 2G ethanol from paddy straw and broken rice for use in ethanol plants within the state.
Deputy CM Singh Deo was joined by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, and Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena. Senior officials including Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare; Sudarshan Chakraborty, Managing Director, Supply Corporation; and Shubham Saxena, Director, Agriculture and Food Production, also attended the review.
