The Odisha government has launched a robust verification process to weed out impersonators posing as farmers during the Kharif paddy procurement season.
Announcing the initiative, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that e-KYC will be made mandatory for all farmer registrations.
The e-KYC process will include biometric scans of fingerprints and iris, which officials say will help accurately identify legitimate cultivators and block fraudulent entries. The move comes amid rising concerns over duplicate farmer registrations and misuse of government procurement schemes.
“Genuine farmers must complete e-KYC while registering to sell their produce. This will bring transparency and ensure that benefits reach rightful stakeholders,” said Patra.
The verification campaign is expected to tighten controls on procurement and ensure only eligible farmers can sell their paddy. Officials have already begun preparations to implement the process district-wise.
