Bhubaneswar: The state government Wednesday announced a 15-day extension of token validity to help farmers who have registered for paddy procurement.
In a video message, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare (FS&CW) Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that the state government has procured 63,65,000 metric tonnes of paddy so far.
“Districts like Bargarh and Sambalpur have completed nearly 95 per cent of their procurement,” he said.
The state government is prepared to purchase up to 80,00,000 metric tonnes of paddy, surpassing previous records, the minister added.
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The state government has already transferred over Rs17,000 crore directly into the bank accounts of farmers, he said, adding that payments are being processed within 48 hours of procurement to ensure financial liquidity for them.
“The procurement drive for this season will continue till March 31.
District Collectors have been given the authority to extend token validity by 15 days to ensure that every registered farmer has the opportunity to sell their crops without hassle,” he said.
He added that paddy procurement is being monitored in real time through a central command centre.
Patra emphasised that no farmer in the state will face hurdles due to delays, logistical issues, or other problems, ensuring smooth sales at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The decision comes amid reports of procurement slowdowns and criticism from the Opposition.
The move is expected to benefit thousands of farmers during the current marketing season.