Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra announced Sunday that paddy procurement in the state will continue till March 31, after which no further procurement will take place.
Speaking to the media, Patra stated that around 50,000 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured so far. The state government has set a target to procure 76 lakh metric tonnes of paddy for the current season.
Meanwhile, the government is planning procurement for the upcoming Rabi season. Patra informed that details regarding the procurement of Rabi crops will be released soon.
Procurement in India: Kharif and Rabi seasons
India follows a dual agricultural cycle with two primary seasons: Kharif and Rabi.
The Kharif season, starting with the monsoon in June and concluding around October-November, includes crops like rice, maize, and pulses. The government procures a significant portion of rice during this period to maintain buffer stocks and support farmers.
The Rabi season, which begins in October and is harvested by March-April, primarily includes wheat, barley, and mustard.
Wheat procurement is particularly crucial for maintaining stock in the Food Corporation of India’s reserves, which are used for various welfare schemes such as the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
The government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy aims to provide farmers a guaranteed price for their produce, shielding them from market fluctuations. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies undertake procurement operations across major wheat and paddy-producing states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.
PNN
