Kharif Paddy Procurement Begins Across Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The paddy procurement process for the current Kharif season is underway in Odisha, with operations commencing in Deogarh district. Procurement in the district is being carried out across 51 mandis, covering 21,414 registered farmers, officials said.

To ensure smooth and transparent procurement, the administration has appointed 51 Mandi Nodal Officers and 13 supervising officers. Farmer registration in Deogarh has seen a rise this year, increasing from 19,662 last year to 21,414, while the number of mandis has gone up from 49 to 51.

A total of 62,747 acres of paddy cultivation have been registered in the district for this Kharif season, compared to 58,249 acres last year. Authorities have completed satellite surveys of all registered cultivation areas. Basic infrastructure and CCTV surveillance have been ensured at every mandi.

Meanwhile, paddy procurement is already in progress in Bargarh, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Kalahandi, Sundargarh, Subarnapur, and Balangir districts. So far, 3,05,050 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from 67,250 farmers across the state. An amount of Rs 447.22 crore has been disbursed towards Minimum Support Price (MSP), along with Rs 138 crore as input assistance.

Procurement in the remaining districts will begin in a phased manner, with all necessary preparations in place. Registered farmers are being informed in advance, and tokens are being issued accordingly. The government has ensured availability of minimum facilities at mandis, with MSP payments credited to farmers’ bank accounts within 48 hours through an Aadhaar-linked e-KYC payment system.

The State Government said it continues to take multiple measures aimed at the overall development and welfare of farmers.