Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday emphasized the need to safeguard farmers from middlemen in the ongoing paddy procurement process.

While reviewing the progress of procurement, which began on November 20, the chief minister directed officials to ensure that middlemen do not exploit the system to farmers’ disadvantage.

“The Chief Minister has instructed officials to maintain strict vigilance and ensure middlemen do not take undue advantage of farmers under any circumstances,” stated a release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

The state government’s paddy procurement initiative aims to provide fair prices and ensure smooth transactions directly benefiting farmers. Regular monitoring mechanisms have been deployed to eliminate any irregularities in the process, officials said.