The Inter-Ministerial Committee, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, conducted a comprehensive review of the ongoing Kharif 2025-26 paddy procurement process at Lok Seva Bhawan today.
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised the need for full cooperation with farmers and prompt resolution of any issues arising during procurement.
The committee directed departmental officers to regularly visit mandis to oversee operations and ensure smooth functioning. Paddy procurement is currently underway in 11 districts: Bargarh, Balangir, Boudh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, and Sundargarh. Procurement in the remaining districts will commence as per schedule.
To enhance transparency and security, CCTV cameras have been installed in all mandis across the state, with round-the-clock monitoring from a dedicated control room. This year, additional mandis have been strengthened, and model mandis built to meet Central Government standards, prioritising farmer convenience.
As per the latest data, 4,39,294 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from 97,972 farmers through various mandis. Bargarh district leads with 1,63,288 MT procured from 36,356 farmers. A total of 9,41,433 farmer tokens have been issued statewide.
Measures for transparency include mandatory e-KYC during registration and direct transfer of payments to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) apps enable live tracking of paddy transport from mandis to mills.
Ministers present included Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, and Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta. Principal Secretary Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee and Sanjay Kumar Singh, along with senior officers from relevant departments, attended and shared inputs.
