Odisha kharif paddy procurement to begin from Nov 20

The procurement of Kharif paddy for the current season is all set to begin from November 20, with Bargarh district being the first to roll out the process. The State Government on Thursday announced extensive arrangements to ensure smooth procurement and proper storage of paddy across mandis for the current season.

According to official sources, modern facilities have been installed in several procurement centres to strengthen the storage and handling of the harvested crop. In a major initiative to modernise the paddy procurement system, the government has decided to establish 100 model mandis across Odisha within the next two years.

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As part of the first phase, tenders have been floated and work has already commenced for 38 model mandis. In addition, the government has allocated Rs 20 crore during the current financial year for the construction of 200-metric-tonne capacity warehouses in 80 cooperative societies. These warehouses are expected to boost the storage infrastructure and reduce post-harvest losses significantly.

Further, development work worth Rs 516 crore will soon begin in 973 cooperative societies and Regulated Market Committees (RMCs) to enhance their infrastructure facilities. The move aims to strengthen the agricultural marketing network, ensure farmers receive timely payments, and enhance the overall efficiency of the procurement process in the state.