Bhubaneswar, 07 January (H.S.): The Odisha government has resolved the impasse over paddy procurement after accepting key demands of rice millers, leading to the resumption of procurement operations in 19 districts, Food Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said on Wednesday.

The deadlock at procurement mandis was cleared following a meeting between the state government and representatives of the rice millers’ association on Tuesday. Subsequently, the government issued necessary guidelines to ensure the smooth continuation of paddy procurement and lifting.

Providing an update, the minister said that paddy has so far been procured from 3,15,431 farmers, amounting to 13,93,867 metric tonnes. Of this, 13,59,974 metric tonnes has already been lifted by millers, indicating that operations have normalised.

He added that farmers have received ₹891.58 crore as input assistance against the procured paddy, offering significant financial relief to cultivators.

“The procurement process is now running smoothly. Most of the millers’ demands have been accepted, and maintenance has been ordered for three months. Their request for an increase in transport charges will be examined after a detailed meeting, while other pending issues are also under consideration,” Patra said.

Paddy procurement and lifting activities are currently progressing smoothly across the 19 districts, the minister confirmed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda