Odisha Opens Rabi Paddy Procurement as Farmer Registrations Rise to 375,556

Odisha has begun phased procurement of rabi paddy across the state, with operations set to continue through June 30. A total of 375,556 farmers from 20 districts have registered for the 2025-26 season, marking an increase over the 338,481 registrations recorded in the previous cycle.

The Details

The phased launch of rabi paddy procurement on May 14 across multiple districts in Odisha represents the latest phase in the state’s agricultural purchasing program for the current season. The procurement window has been scheduled to remain active through June 30, giving farmers a defined period in which to bring their rabi paddy to designated collection points for purchase by the state.

The rollout of the procurement system followed a state-level review meeting convened before the start date. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg at Lok Seva Bhavan, where officials assessed preparedness and finalized operational plans for the collection of rabi paddy across the 20 participating districts. The coordination at the state level was intended to ensure that each district’s procurement infrastructure would be ready to receive crops as the phased opening proceeded.

A total of 375,556 farmers from 20 districts have registered for the current rabi procurement cycle. That figure exceeds the 338,481 farmers who registered during the previous season, reflecting a broader base of agricultural producers seeking to participate in the government-backed purchase program this year. The growth in registrations points to sustained interest among farming communities in the state’s guaranteed procurement system.

The government has deployed 2,472 mandi nodal officers to oversee procurement operations during the collection period. These officers are stationed at procurement centers and are responsible for monitoring transactions and ensuring that the process runs according to established guidelines at each site. Their presence at mandis is part of a broader effort to maintain order and transparency during the busy collection season.

In a parallel measure, the state has mandated that all mandis be equipped with round-the-clock CCTV surveillance to maintain continuous oversight of operations and document activity at collection points throughout the season. The surveillance requirement adds a layer of accountability to the procurement infrastructure, recording the flow of paddy and the conduct of transactions at each site.

Against the backdrop of these operational preparations, Garg issued a stern warning aimed at preventing misconduct during the procurement process. She stated that stringent action would be taken against officials, millers, cooperative societies, or any individual found to be involved in irregularities or malpractice. The directive underscores the state’s focus on maintaining procedural integrity as procurement volumes expand.

Context

The rabi paddy procurement is the second major collection window in Odisha’s annual agricultural calendar, following the kharif season. The state reported procuring 77.48 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the 2025-26 kharif season, a figure that represents a 5.48% increase compared with the prior year’s collection. The growth in procurement volume and the rise in farmer registrations this season suggest continued participation by agricultural producers in the state-backed purchasing system, which provides a guaranteed market for their crops.

Although the official procurement window was originally scheduled to open on May 1, district-level committees opted for a phased rollout beginning on May 14. State officials attributed the delayed start to concerns about the early onset of monsoon rains, which pose a risk of water damage to paddy stock stored at mandis. The decision to begin collection in phases rather than opening all centers simultaneously on May 1 reflected a calculated approach to managing weather-related risks during the early weeks of the season. Instructions were issued to protect stored crops from rain damage as part of the broader operational guidelines for the season.

What's Next

Procurement operations will remain active across participating districts until June 30. The state will continue to rely on the network of mandi nodal officers and CCTV monitoring to supervise the process through the final collection period. The June 30 deadline remains fixed, giving farmers approximately six weeks to complete their sales at authorized mandis. Compliance with the safeguard instructions issued ahead of the launch will be monitored as the season progresses. With registration numbers running ahead of the previous year’s figure, officials will be tracking whether the upward trend in farmer participation translates into increased procurement volume by the time the window closes.