Dikhyaa Mohanty 
On Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo chaired an interministerial review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan to evaluate the acquisition of Rabi paddy for the 2024–2025 season. The gathering emphasized that, in contrast to the original goal of 14 lakh metric tons (LMT) of paddy, 19 lakh LMT of paddy were procured, exceeding expectations. The last day of Rabi procurement is today. This season’s record-high procurement of 12 LMT is a reflection of the state’s ongoing assistance to farmers.
Under the “Samruddh Krushak Yojana,” Odisha is still the only state in the nation to supply Rabi paddy at a price of Rs 3,100 per quintal, which includes both input support and the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The government announced the implementation of an e-KYC system for farmers in an effort to promote transparency and reduce the flow of paddy from nearby states. The purpose of this action is to avoid malpractice and expedite beneficiary identification. Additionally, a new paddy purchase policy is being considered.
During the meeting, officials reported that Odisha has produced 93 LMT of paddy this year, including both Kharif and Rabi crops. From this, approximately 63 LMT of rice is expected, significantly exceeding the state’s domestic requirement of 27 LMT. The surplus has prompted the government to explore alternative utilisation strategies, including the production of 2G ethanol from paddy straw and broken rice for use in ethanol plants within the state.
93 LMT of paddy, including both Kharif and Rabi crops, were produced in Odisha this year, according to authorities at the conference. About 63 LMT of rice is anticipated from this, which is far more than the 27 LMT domestic demand set by the state. Because of the excess, the government is looking at other ways to use it, such as making 2G ethanol from broken rice and paddy straw to use in state-wide ethanol facilities.
