In a remarkable display of farmer enthusiasm, more than one lakh cultivators across Odisha registered themselves in a single day for the Kharif paddy collection and marketing season 2026-27.
The total number of registered farmers has now surged past 7.18 lakh, according to the latest figures released by the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department.
The registration drive, which began on August 6, is being conducted at Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), Large Area Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS), and Water Panchayats. It will remain open until August 31, giving eligible farmers a few more days to complete the process.
District-wise, Bargarh leads with nearly 75,000 registrations, followed by Balasore (50,000), Kalahandi (49,000), Ganjam (49,000), and Bolangir (around 31,000). The exercise is currently underway at 2,912 PACS and four Water Panchayats across the state.
Officials said the process is being carried out through close coordination among the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Cooperation Department, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, and the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
“Farmers are showing tremendous interest this year. We urge all eligible cultivators to complete their registration at the earliest so that they can benefit smoothly during the procurement season,” a senior department official said.
For any grievances or queries related to the registration process, farmers have been advised to contact the toll-free helpline 1967 set up by the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department.
With the deadline approaching fast, agricultural officials expect the final tally to climb even higher in the coming days as more farmers rush to secure their place in the upcoming Kharif paddy procurement operations.
