New Year Brings No Relief as Paddy Procurement Woes Continue in Odisha

Rayagada: The turn of the calendar has failed to bring any respite for paddy farmers in Odisha, who continue to struggle with delays, mismanagement, and alleged official apathy in the procurement process. Even as the New Year begins, harvested paddy remains unsold, with token delays and disorder at procurement centres deepening farmers’ distress.

In Kereda village of Rayagada tehsil, located along the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha border, quintals of harvested paddy can be seen lying exposed under the open sky. With no access to personal storage facilities, farmers are forced to leave their produce scattered in fields or piled along village roads, vulnerable to weather damage.

Farmers said they had hoped to sell their produce at mandis soon after harvest. However, despite procurement centres opening more than two weeks ago, many are yet to receive tokens, leaving them with no option but to keep their paddy outdoors. Prolonged exposure to dew and cold conditions has raised fears of quality deterioration and financial loss.

The crisis is not limited to Rayagada district. Similar reports of procurement mismanagement have emerged from Nabarangpur district, where procurement reportedly began nearly two months behind schedule and paddy lifting continues to remain stalled. Farmers there are spending sleepless nights at mandis, guarding their produce in harsh winter conditions.

Traditionally seen as a time of relief and reward after months of hard labour, the harvest season has instead become a period of anxiety and uncertainty for farmers. While the year has changed on the calendar, growers say their ground reality remains the same, with unresolved procurement issues continuing to threaten their livelihoods.