Bhubaneswar: Addressing the critical final phase of the kharif marketing season, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, conducted a high-level review meeting today with senior departmental officials.
The detailed review focused on streamlining the mop-up operations across the state following the government’s recent decision to extend the procurement deadline by seven days to accommodate farmers who faced technical delays or token issues.
During the deliberations, Shri Singh assessed the ground-level implementation of the procurement drive, which has already reached a significant milestone.
As of April 8, 2026, the State has successfully purchased 77,48,033 metric tonnes of paddy. This extensive operation has ensured the direct transfer of 23,455 crore rupees into the bank accounts of 18,84,229 farmers, reinforcing the state’s focus on maintaining the financial health of the rural sector through the Minimum Support Price.
Principal Secretary Shri Singh issued strict directives to officials and District Collectors to ensure that the extended window is utilized effectively to include every genuine registered farmer.
He emphasized the need for immediate resolution of any remaining “katni-chhatni” (weight deduction) complaints and instructed the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation to accelerate the lifting of stocks from mandis to rice mills to prevent congestion.
With the procurement window drawing to a close, the Department of Food, Supply and Consumer Welfare is also prioritizing the delivery of Custom Milled Rice to the Food Corporation of India.
Farmers are encouraged to utilize the extension period and report any local mismanagement or logistical hurdles to the state’s toll-free assistance line at 1967.
The extensive review concluded with a commitment to ensure that the season ends with zero pendency, fulfilling the State Government’s promise of a seamless and profitable selling experience for the farming community.