The eagerly awaited paddy procurement process for the current season has officially commenced in Odisha's Ganjam district. The operations kicked off on Tuesday with the inauguration of the first two procurement centres, or mandis, located at Phasiguda in Digapahandi block and Dakhinapur in Kukudakhandi block.
Large-Scale Infrastructure for Farmer Convenience
District Collector Keerthi Vassan V inaugurated the procurement at these two locations. In a significant move to facilitate farmers, the district administration has planned to establish a vast network of around 476 procurement centres across Ganjam. These mandis will be opened in a phased manner over the coming week.
The collector emphasized that all necessary basic amenities have been provided at these centres. "Drinking water, sheds for paddy storage, toilets, and CCTV cameras have been arranged at the mandis," he stated. Furthermore, the administration aims to set up 56 model mandis with permanent infrastructure and all facilities. The Dakhinapur centre, where procurement began, is one such model mandi.
Unprecedented Participation of Women Self-Help Groups
A standout feature of this year's procurement is the massive involvement of women's self-help groups (SHGs). A total of 109 SHGs, involving over 1,000 women, will be engaged in the process—reportedly the highest such participation in the state. These women have received specific training for procurement activities.
Their responsibilities will include verifying the quality of the paddy, procuring it directly from farmers, and subsequently disbursing it to millers. Multiple agencies, including the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS) and a pani panchayat, are also part of the procurement mechanism.
Targets, Challenges, and Farmers' Plea
The government has set an initial procurement target of 36.56 lakh quintals of paddy for the first phase, with plans to increase it in subsequent phases. Chief Civil Supply Officer Pradumnya Kumar Routray provided comparative data, noting that last year, 58.80 lakh quintals were procured from approximately 1.4 lakh farmers. This year, a record 1.56 lakh farmers have registered to supply their produce.
However, a major concern looms over the process. Farmers in the district have appealed to the government to purchase all their paddy, irrespective of quality, as unseasonal rains in October damaged their crops. Simanchal Nahak, secretary of the Rushikulya Rait Mahasabha farmers' organisation, explained that large quantities of paddy have been dampened and discolored. "These paddy stocks will be rejected by procurement agencies as they do not meet the Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norm. We demand the government procure all paddy, regardless of quality," he said. Farmers had earlier urged an early start to procurement to prevent distress sales of their produce.
