Odisha Procures 70 Lakh MT of Paddy from 15.65 Lakh Farmers

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has procured approximately 70 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from around 15.65 lakh farmers during the ongoing Kharif season, official sources confirmed on Saturday.

During this procurement drive, the state has disbursed Rs. 15,613 crore as Minimum Support Price (MSP) directly to farmers’ accounts. Additionally, an Input Assistance amounting to Rs. 5,430 crore has also been provided to support agricultural activities.

The progress of the procurement process was reviewed in a high-level meeting chaired by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra. The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary of the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Sanjay Kumar Singh, and Managing Director of Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation, Shubham Saxena.

Preparations for Rabi Season Procurement
Discussions during the review focused on streamlining the procurement process for the upcoming Rabi season. Officials announced that the paddy procurement for the Rabi season will commence on May 1 and continue until June 30. Registration of farmers for this phase will begin this month to ensure a smooth process.

Supply of Rice and e-KYC Implementation
The meeting also addressed the supply of rice derived from the procured paddy to the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Additionally, Minister Patra emphasized the need to expedite the e-KYC process for farmers across the state. So far, e-KYC verification has been completed for about 92 percent of beneficiaries.

To facilitate the process in regions with weak internet connectivity, arrangements are being made to provide internet access at Fair Price Shops (FPSs). Efforts are also underway to include the remaining 30.84 lakh beneficiaries who have not yet completed their e-KYC verification.

Jan-Poshan Kendras Pilot Initiative
As part of a pilot initiative, 30 selected FPSs will be transformed into Jan-Poshan Kendras, which will offer nutritious food products such as millets, along with Public Distribution System (PDS) items and other essential goods. A team will also be dispatched to other states to study the operational model of Jan-Poshan Kendras and implement best practices in Odisha.

With the government’s continued efforts, paddy procurement and farmer welfare measures are expected to be further strengthened in the state, ensuring better support for the farming community.