Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has procured 57 lakh 22 thousand 304 tonnes of paddy during the 2021-22 Kharif season. By the end of March 2022, the procurement agencies have purchased paddy worth Rs 11,101 crore from the farmers in the state. The share of small and marginal farmers from whom paddy has been procured has increased significantly. In total, 12 lakh 92 thousand 732 registered farmers have sold their produce to the procurement agencies out of which 10 lakh, 92 thousand are small and marginal farmers. In comparison to 2018-19, the government has procured nearly 95 percent more paddy this kharif season. Bargarh district has once again topped the list of maximum contributors with 6 lakh 14 thousand 102 tonnes of Paddy being procured from the district during the season. Odisha Food and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain has said that with Online registrations, advance tokens and P-Pass system, the procurement process has been streamlined and made easier for the farmers.
While the highest paddy has been procured from Bargarh, from Kalahandi 4 lakh 66 thousand 117 tonnes of paddy has been procured. Likewise, from Ganjam 4 lakh 5 thousand, 202 tonnes paddy has been procured by the government. Subarnapur, Sambalpur, Balangir and Sundargarh have contributed 3 lakh 38 thousand, 2 lakh 96 thousand, 2 lakh 84 thousand 2 lakh 24 thousand matric tonnes of paddy for procurement through societies.