Odisha minister Krushna Patra kickstarts Kharif paddy procurement in Nuapada, opens several mandis

Eats with farmers; assures MSP payment within 48 hours

By Nalini Sahu

Nuapada (Odisha), Dec. 7: Marking the formal start of the Kharif paddy procurement season, Odisha food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Sunday rolled out operations at multiple procurement centres across Nuapada district.

The minister launched the first mandi at Darlimunda, joined by former Bargarh MP Pravas Singh and MLAs Jay Dholakia (Nuapada) and Dusmanta Kumar Swain (Khandapada). Speaking on the state’s procurement targets, Patra said Odisha was aiming at nearly 100 lakh metric tonnes of paddy this season — a considerable jump from last year’s 74 lakh metric tonnes.

He attributed the expected rise to expanded cultivation, following the government’s decision to offer an additional Rs 800 input subsidy over the fixed MSP of Rs 2,300 per quintal. “With more area under paddy this year, we anticipate procurement touching the 100-lakh-MT mark. Farmers need not worry — their MSP payments will be cleared within 24 to 48 hours,” he assured.

Addressing longstanding complaints about katni chhatni — the deduction of about five kilograms per quintal citing moisture issues — Patra said he had already instructed officials to curb what he described as an “unfair and exploitative” practice.

With procurement volumes increasing each year, the minister also flagged the need for additional storage space. The department, he said, has drawn up plans to add 20 lakh metric tonnes of storage capacity to manage the higher inflow of rice.

In a gesture aimed at strengthening trust with cultivators and countering the Biju Janata Dal’s allegations of harassment at mandis, Patra shared a meal with farmers at the Daripali procurement centre.

His visit comes a month after the BJP’s emphatic win in the Nuapada Assembly bypoll, where party nominee Jay Dholakia secured victory by 83,478 votes. Patra had supervised the Jayajanga Mandal—one of the eight mandals in the constituency—during the campaign.

Dholakia, who accompanied the minister to each mandi and interacted with farmers and local party workers, said Nuapada had begun experiencing visible changes under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s administration.

“Before the bypoll, the Chief Minister promised special attention to Nuapada and announced a package of Rs 1,100 crore. Today’s visit underscores the government’s commitment. I believe the district’s socio-economic landscape will see major improvement in the days ahead,” he said.

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Caption: Odisha food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra (third from right), along with leaders Pravas Singh and Jay Dholakia, sharing a meal with farmers at Darlimunda in Nuapada district.