Odisha announces schedule for Rabi paddy procurement, registration from May 1 amid high-tech surveillance

The Odisha government has finalised the roadmap for the Rabi paddy procurement season for the 2025–26 Kharif Marketing Season (KMS), with farmer registration set to begin from March 10. The procurement process will commence on May 1 and continue till June 30, 2026, officials said.

In a significant move aimed at boosting farmers’ income, the state government has fixed the total procurement price at Rs 3,100 per quintal. This includes the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,369 along with Rs 731 per quintal as input assistance under the Krushak Samrudhi Yojana.

Registration Window from March 10

The registration of farmers for Rabi paddy procurement will be open between March 10 and March 20, 2026. Land-owning farmers will be able to renew their registration through a “one-click” system, making the process simpler and faster.

However, sharecroppers (Bhagchasi) will have to register afresh. They will be required to submit a consent letter along with the Aadhaar details of the landowner to become eligible for procurement benefits.

Satellite Monitoring to Verify Cultivation

To ensure that procurement benefits reach genuine cultivators, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department will deploy a high-tech verification system this year.

For the first time, satellite imagery will be used to verify the cultivation status of registered plots. The registration portal has also been integrated with the Bhulekh land records database, which will automatically reject claims made on non-cultivable land such as forests, rivers and hilly areas.

Procurement in 20 Districts

Rabi paddy procurement will be carried out in 20 districts, including Bargarh, Sambalpur, Kalahandi, Balasore and Cuttack.

To prevent irregularities such as “ghost procurement,” farmers claiming irrigation through borewells or Lift Irrigation (LI) points will now have to provide their electricity consumer numbers for cross-verification.

Zero Tolerance for Fraud

The government has warned of strict action against any attempt to manipulate data during the registration process.

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Farmers found submitting fraudulent claims may face a permanent ban from government procurement systems. Officials or society secretaries found facilitating mala fide entries could face disciplinary as well as criminal action, authorities said.

The final master list of eligible farmers is expected to be published by April 30, 2026, ahead of the start of procurement on May 1.