Paddy procurement begins in Odisha at Rs 3,100 per quintal

The Odisha government has begun paddy procurement for the 2024-25 Kharif season, offering Rs 3,100 per quintal, including an Rs 800 bonus for farmers. The state aims to procure 80 lakh tonnes of paddy during the season.

Team RuralVoice

Published: Nov 21, 2024 - 11:22 Updated: Nov 21, 2024 - 11:31

Paddy procurement begins in Odisha at Rs 3,100 per quintal

The Odisha government has started paddy procurement for the 2024-25 Kharif season. Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister KC Patra began the procurement process on Wednesday at Kalapani Mandi in Bargarh district. Farmers will receive Rs 3,100 per quintal for their paddy, which includes a bonus of Rs 800 provided by the state government. The central government had set the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at Rs 2,300 per quintal for regular paddy and Rs 2,320 for Grade A paddy. The state aims to procure 80 lakh tonnes of paddy this season.

According to a government press release, Minister KC Patra said that the promises made by the BJP during the assembly elections are being gradually fulfilled. As part of this, paddy is now being procured from farmers at Rs 3,100 per quintal. He noted that while the central government set the MSP for paddy at Rs 2,300 per quintal, the state government is providing an additional Rs 800 per quintal as a bonus for farmers. He also mentioned that paddy procurement will begin in Sambalpur district on Thursday and will expand to other districts in stages.

Minister Patra stated that over 1.55 lakh farmers in Bargarh district have registered to sell their paddy. Co-operative societies and central government agencies will buy paddy directly from farmers. To ensure a smooth process, the government has appointed supervisors to manage four to five mandis each. Quality testing machines will also be available at each procurement center to check the paddy's quality.

The transport department will oversee the movement of paddy from mandis to rice mills. District collectors have been authorized to make decisions to protect farmers' interests. Additionally, patrol teams have been stationed in border districts to prevent people from neighboring states from entering Odisha to sell paddy during the procurement period.