Bhubaneswar: Paddy procurement for the current kharif season in the state will start from Nov 21, announced revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari on Monday following a high-level ministerial meeting.
Pujari said paddy procurement for the season will start from Bargarh district, with the state govt aiming to procure 80 lakh tonnes from farmers. “The minimum support price for paddy will be Rs 2,300 per quintal,” he said.
The minister elaborated that the state govt will provide an additional input assistance of Rs 800 per quintal, elevating the total procurement price to Rs 3,100 per quintal. “Officials will be stationed at mandis to ensure a seamless paddy procurement process,” he said.
Pujari further mentioned that automatic grain testing machines will be installed at the mandis to assess paddy quality. “Dedicated public transport vehicles will be positioned at the mandis to facilitate transportation of paddy to the rice mills,” the minister said.
Earlier in Oct, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted a thorough review of the paddy procurement arrangements and resolved to monitor inter-state movement of paddy, particularly during this kharif season.
He subsequently instructed district collectors to ensure the complete elimination of irregularities, corruption, and favouritism in paddy procurement. The CM had announced an additional Rs 800 would be provided above the minimum support price for paddy to farmers.
“Owing to elevated paddy prices in Odisha, there exists a possibility of paddy being transported from other states. Therefore, district collectors have been instructed to arrange enforcement squads in all border areas and monitor them through 24X7 CCTV cameras,” Pujari said.

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