Odisha to begin paddy procurement on Nov 20 with Rs 800 input assistance

Bhubaneswar: Paddy procurement for the Kharif season will begin in Bargarh and Sambalpur districts on November 20 and November 22, respectively, an official said on Sunday. This decision was made during an inter-ministerial review meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo.
Singh Deo emphasized the importance of expediting the paddy procurement process as the harvest season approaches, while ensuring that irregularities such as brokering, katni chhatni, and other unfair practices are strictly prevented. He stressed the need to guarantee that farmers receive a fair price for their crops.
For the first time, an additional input assistance of Rs 800 per quintal, alongside the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, will be provided. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is set to launch the procurement program on December 8 at Sohela in Bargarh district.
Farmers who have sold their paddy in the mandis by December 7 will be eligible for this additional input assistance of Rs 800 per quintal, the official confirmed.
To ensure the quality of the paddy, automatic grain analyzers will be used for testing. These machines, already installed in 200 large Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PPCS) with a paddy collection capacity of over 4000 metric tons, will be supported by moisture testing machines.
Singh Deo also advised millers to be present at the mandis to prevent katni chhatni (unofficial pricing and weight manipulation). Each district will have a control room system to assist farmers, ensuring the entire procurement process remains transparent. Nodal officers and supervisors have been appointed at the mandis to oversee the operation.
The high-level meeting was attended by Food Supply & Consumer Affairs Minister Krushna Chandra Patro and Cooperation Minister Pradip Bal Samant.