In a bid to expedite the paddy procurement process in Odisha, Chief Secretary Anu Garg convened a crucial meeting today with representatives of the All Odisha Rice Millers Association.
The discussions focused on addressing various hurdles faced by rice millers in the collection, milling, and supply of rice under government schemes.
The meeting, held at the conference hall in Lok Seva Bhawan, was attended by prominent officials, including Additional Chief Secretary to the CM, Saswata Mishra, Principal Secretary of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department Sanjay Kumar Singh, and Managing Director of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd., K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy. On behalf of the millers’ association, the president, secretary, and other office bearers participated actively.
Key issues highlighted by the millers included the entire workflow from paddy procurement by the government, conversion to rice through custom milling, contractual rice supply to the state, and subsequent collection by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). For the Kharif Marketing Season 2024-25, deliberations centred on custom milling of procured paddy and the timely supply of rice.
Despite the commencement of the 2025-26 marketing season, approximately 10 per cent of the contract-based milled rice from the previous 2024-25 season remains pending, with supplies ongoing. Millers pointed out storage challenges arising from the need to hold new paddy alongside custom-milled rice for extended periods, leading to space constraints and preservation issues.
Although additional facilities for paddy storage within mill premises have been provided with support from the State Food and Supplies Corporation, millers noted that retaining stocks beyond the stipulated months incurs extra rental and maintenance costs. They urged an increase in financial assistance for paddy procurement and rice transportation expenses to cover rising costs.
Furthermore, emphasising the need for long-term storage solutions for paddy and rice, the association proposed the establishment of large-scale paddy storage centres under the Chief Minister’s Agriculture and Industry Scheme across the state.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg attentively heard the concerns raised by the millers and assured a thorough examination of all issues, committing to take necessary steps for resolution. From the association’s side, it was reiterated that paddy procurement and the supply of custom-milled rice are ongoing processes, with millers extending full cooperation. However, they appealed to the state government to address the longstanding challenges faced in the overall mechanism to ensure smoother operations.
This meeting underscores the government’s proactive approach to bolstering food security and supporting the agricultural supply chain in Odisha, where paddy cultivation plays a pivotal role in the economy.
