Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In order to buy paddy from farmers during the current Rabi season, which runs from May 1 to June 30, the Odisha government has made considerable preparations. An official news release states that Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja chaired the State-level Paddy Procurement Committee meeting, which took place in the Lok Seva Bhawan’s Second Floor Conference Hall. While Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Food Supply and Consumer Welfare, presented topics for debate, the appropriate District Collectors and Civil Supply Officers participated via video conference.
Singh began by stating that around 73.45 LMT of paddy was purchased from approximately 16 lakh 60 thousand farmers during the most recent Kharif season. For this, farmers received Rs 5,862 crore in input support and Rs 16,853 crore in MSP. In a similar vein, paddy procurement for the current Rabi season will start on May 1 and go until June 30. At the meeting, it was resolved to aim for the current season’s acquisition of 14 lakh metric tons of paddy. Approximately 3 lakh 37,000 farmers have registered for this.
Procurement will take place in 20 districts this year, including the recently added Kandhamal, Sundargarh, and Bhadrak districts. Additionally involved in this process are 200 Self-Help Groups and 965 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies. The relevant Collectors have been instructed by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja to make sure that qualified farmers are not denied the opportunity to purchase paddy. He also praised the token that ORSAC is giving farmers for verifying the regions where paddy crops are grown using satellite vision technology. Additionally, he instructed the prompt deployment of supervisors and nodal officials for mandis. The availability of all amenities for farmers at mandis was also highlighted at the conference.
Similar to the Kharif season, after 48 hours of purchasing paddy, the farmer would receive Rs 3100 per quintal, which includes Rs 2300 as MSP and Rs 800 as input support. Additionally, complaints about the purchase of paddy can be filed by calling the toll-free number 1967. Every mandi will have CCTV, and every automobile transporting paddy from the mandi to the mill needs a vehicle tracking system.
