Bhubaneswar, 25 August (H.S.): Odisha has registered an all-time high in farmer enrollment for the Kharif season, with over 18.5 lakh farmers completing the registration process this year. Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra announced on Monday that a total of 18,50,983 farmers have registered so far, marking a significant increase over previous years.

With the deadline for registration set to end at midnight tonight, officials anticipate that the final number may climb even higher. For comparison, 17,50,462 farmers had registered during the previous Kharif season.

Minister Patra attributed the rise in registrations to changes in the verification process. Initially, the government had implemented e-KYC to curb the influence of middlemen and ensure transparency. However, due to certain technical challenges, a self-declaration system was later introduced, making the process more accessible and encouraging wider participation, he explained.

The surge in farmer registrations is seen as a positive step toward ensuring timely procurement and targeted delivery of agricultural benefits to genuine beneficiaries.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda