Paddy procurement in Odisha to end on March 31, over 90% target achieved

Bhubaneswar, Feb 25: The Odisha government has announced that the ongoing paddy procurement process will officially conclude on March 31, marking the end of this year’s procurement cycle.

Farmers have been urged to complete their paddy deliveries before the deadline to ensure they benefit from the government’s purchasing scheme. Any delay beyond the stipulated date may lead to exclusion from the procurement process.

Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, while addressing the media on Tuesday, reaffirmed that the decision aligns with the government’s strategy to streamline and enhance the procurement mechanism. He highlighted that the state has successfully procured approximately 6.5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy so far, achieving over 90% of its target.

The government has also assured that necessary arrangements have been made to facilitate smooth procurement operations at the mandis. However, concerns over irregularities persist. Recently, two officials were suspended on February 16 due to alleged negligence and malpractice at a mandi in Machhagaon under Balikuda block of Jagatsinghpur district. Authorities have assured strict monitoring to prevent any discrepancies in the procurement process.