In a significant step towards bolstering agricultural efficiency, the first meeting of Odisha’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Procurement for the Kharif 2025-26 season convened today at Lok Seva Bhavan.
Chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, the session emphasised prioritising farmers’ convenience amid preparations for the upcoming harvest.
The committee outlined a comprehensive roadmap to ensure the procurement of Kharif crops concludes by the end of November. A key directive from Deputy CM Singh Deo was the construction of permanent model mandis through coordinated efforts among various departments. This initiative aims to streamline market access and reduce logistical hurdles for farmers.
Highlighting the government’s supportive measures, officials noted a remarkable 29 per cent increase in farmer registrations compared to the previous year. This surge is attributed to an additional input assistance of Rs 800 provided by the state, which has encouraged even non-paddy cultivators to shift towards paddy farming. “The incentive has sparked widespread interest, drawing more farmers into the fold and promising a robust harvest,” said a committee source.
Post-harvest management also took centre stage. Plans include expanding warehouse infrastructure in collaboration with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Cooperation Department, and the State Warehousing Corporation. For surplus rice, innovative strategies were discussed, such as supplying broken rice to ethanol plants for biofuel production, distributing free rice to below-poverty-line families via welfare schemes, and exploring export opportunities to other countries.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the need to enhance milling capacity by establishing new rice mills and upgrading existing ones to hybrid models, ensuring better processing efficiency.
The gathering saw participation from key figures, including Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Kumar Sharma, Principal Secretary of Finance Sanjeev Kumar Mishra, Agriculture Secretary Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, and Commissioner cum Secretary of Cooperation Rajesh Prabhakar Patil. Each contributed insights on preparedness and inter-departmental synergy.
This proactive approach underscores Odisha’s commitment to agricultural sustainability and farmer empowerment, setting the stage for a successful Kharif season.
