Odisha Extends Paddy Procurement Till March 31, Announces 15-Day Token Relief

Bhubaneswar: In a major relief for farmers facing procurement challenges, Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra has announced that paddy procurement in the state will continue uninterrupted until March 31.

The Minister stated that if the validity of procurement tokens expires, it will be extended by an additional 15 days. He also informed that District Collectors have been empowered to further extend the token validity period wherever required to ensure that all registered farmers can sell their produce without any inconvenience.

Emphasizing the government’s commitment, Patra assured that no farmer will face hurdles due to delays, logistical bottlenecks, or other issues. He reiterated that the state government is determined to procure paddy from all eligible registered farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

The announcement comes amid reports of procurement slowdowns and criticism from the Opposition during the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season. The government has maintained that it will complete procurement from all eligible farmers by the March 31 deadline.

The move is expected to benefit thousands of farmers across Odisha and provide much-needed relief during the current procurement cycle.