Odisha’s Rabi Paddy Procurement Hits New High, Outperforming Expectations

Bhubaneswar hosted an inter-ministerial review meeting led by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo to evaluate the Rabi paddy procurement in Odisha for the 2024-25 season. The outcome showed that procurement reached 19 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), exceeding the initial goal of 14 LMT. This represents a substantial increase compared to the previous year’s 12 LMT, highlighting the state’s ongoing support for its agricultural community. Odisha stands out as the only state providing Rs 3,100 per quintal for Rabi paddy, which includes both the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and input assistance through the ‘Samruddh Krushak Yojana.’ To enhance transparency and control the inflow of paddy from nearby states, the government is introducing an e-KYC system tailored for farmers. Furthermore, a new policy on paddy procurement is under consideration. The state’s total paddy production this year reached 93 LMT, resulting in roughly 63 LMT of rice, significantly surpassing the domestic requirement of 27 LMT. Consequently, the government is exploring strategies to utilize the surplus, including the possibility of producing 2G ethanol from paddy straw and broken rice within the state.