Bhubneshwar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in Odisha has delivered on its most significant electoral commitment by commencing paddy procurement at Rs 3,100 per quintal. The programme was launched on 20 November in Bargarh district and will be gradually extended to Sambalpur and other districts.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krishna Chandra Patra inaugurated the procurement process during his visit to Bargarh. He first visited Kalapani mandi, followed by Atabira and Godbhaga mandis, where he performed rituals and officially commenced the procurement.
Speaking at the event, the minister described it as a joyful day for farmers. He stated that the BJP has fulfilled its promise made during the Assembly elections, allowing farmers to receive ₹3,100 per quintal for their paddy.
Emphasising Bargarh’s reputation as Odisha’s “Rice Bowl,” he noted that the paddy procurement process will gradually expand to other districts starting the following day.
While the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy set by the central government is Rs 2,300 per quintal, the state government will provide an additional Rs 800 per quintal to support farmers, Patra added.
The minister highlighted that the Mohan Majhi government has successfully liberated the mandis from the influence of middlemen, ensuring that farmers directly benefit from the scheme. He encouraged all farmers to bring FAQ-standard paddy to the mandis to prevent any deductions during procurement.
During his inspection of the mandis, the minister reviewed the facilities available for farmers, including digital moisture meters, tarpaulins, weighbridges, analysis kits, waiting rooms, shaded areas, drinking water, lighting, toilets, CCTV surveillance, price display boards, and control rooms.
Over 155,000 farmers have registered to sell paddy in Bargarh. Cooperative societies and central government agencies will procure paddy directly from farmers. The government has appointed a supervisor for four mandis each to ensure a smooth procurement process.
The minister mentioned that a supervisor would oversee four to five mandis, with each procurement centre equipped with a quality testing machine to assess the fair average quality of the paddy being sold.
In addition, the transport department has been tasked with supervising the transportation of paddy from the mandis to rice mills. District collectors have been authorised to make decisions at their level to protect farmers’ interests.
Minister Patra also announced that patrolling teams have been deployed in border districts to prevent the entry of paddy from neighbouring states into Odisha’s mandis during the procurement period.
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, currently on an official tour in Singapore, took to social media to emphasise his government’s commitment to farmer welfare, highlighting that their progress is a top priority.
He stated, “The government is placing utmost importance on the progress and welfare of farmers. Today, the formal inauguration of paddy mandis in Bargarh marked the commencement of the paddy procurement process. Comprehensive arrangements have been made to ensure a middleman-free system and to prevent any deductions in the form of cutting or trimming, thereby guaranteeing fair prices for farmers.
In line with this commitment, the government has initiated paddy procurement at ₹3100 per quintal. To maintain transparency and efficiency, measures such as deploying nodal officers, establishing control rooms, and arranging patrolling in the mandis have been implemented.
Officials have been instructed to closely monitor the entire process and ensure a smooth and systematic operation of paddy procurement across the region.”
The Odisha government has set a target to procure 80 lakh tonnes of paddy in the current kharif marketing season (KMS) 2024-25.
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