Odisha Extends Kharif Paddy Procurement By 7 Days To Safeguard Farmers’ Interests
The state has already procured around 77 lakh metric tonnes of paddy
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday extended the Kharif paddy procurement period by an additional seven days, aiming to ensure that no farmer is left out of the procurement process due to token expiry.
Announcing the decision, food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra said the move reflects the state’s commitment to protecting farmers’ interests and ensuring a smooth procurement mechanism. He emphasised that the government is taking all necessary steps to prevent any lapse of tokens issued to farmers for selling their produce.
According to official figures, the state has already procured around 77 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the ongoing Kharif season. Nearly 18.64 lakh farmers have sold their produce so far, underlining the scale of the procurement drive.
The extension is expected to benefit farmers who could not complete the process within the original timeline, providing them additional time to bring their produce to mandis and procurement centres. Officials said the decision would also help ease congestion and streamline operations across procurement points.
Highlighting the achievements of the current season, the minister said Odisha has recorded an all-time high in paddy procurement. He noted that over Rs 22,884 crore has already been directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts, ensuring timely payments and financial security.
Patra reiterated that the government’s priority is to ensure that every eligible farmer is able to sell paddy without inconvenience.
“Our objective is clear — not a single farmer’s token should lapse. The extension has been granted to ensure complete coverage and avoid any hardship to farmers,” he said.
Paddy procurement remains a cornerstone of Odisha’s agrarian economy, providing crucial income support to millions of farmers. The latest extension is expected to further strengthen confidence among the farming community while reinforcing the state’s focus on inclusive and farmer-centric policies.