Paddy Procurement from 1,11,000 farmers has not been completed Even after the deadline: BJD

• Demand to extend the Kharif paddy procurement period by another 15 days
• Demand to extend the registration period for Rabi paddy procurement by one month
• Farmers are facing severe difficulties due to mismanagement in paddy procurement

Bhubaneswar, 31/03/2026:Although March 31 was the last date set by the state government for Kharif paddy procurement, procurement from around 1,11,000 farmers has still not been completed. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has stated that this reflects the failure of the state government. The party has demanded that the procurement period be extended by at least 15 days to collect paddy from these farmers and that the registration period for Rabi paddy procurement be extended by one month.

At a press conference held today at SankhaBhawan, party Vice-President and Former Minister Shri Sanjay Das Burma, along with Former Minister Shri Rohit Pujari, criticized the state government over the paddy procurement issue this year.

Shri Sanjay Das Burma said that the government is busy praising itself. However, it admitted in the Assembly that out of the farmers who had registered to sell paddy, about 111,000 farmers were still unable to sell their produce by the deadline of March 31. Mismanagement in procurement has been observed in most districts, forcing farmers to take to the streets. Due to a complicated registration process, irregularities in token distribution, unnecessary delays in opening mandis, and deductions of about 10 kg per quintal during procurement, farmers have faced severe hardships this year. Out of the total mandis finalized by the government, 318 centres could not be opened even by the end of the procurement period. Therefore, BJD has demanded that the government extend the procurement period by at least 15 days for farmers who have received tokens but have not yet been able to sell their paddy.He further added that due to the complicated registration process for Rabi paddy procurement, many farmers have been unable to register. Hence, the government should extend the registration period by one more month.

Shri Rohit Pujari alleged that the state BJP government has conspired against farmers. During elections, it promised an input subsidy of Rs. 800 per quintal of paddy and came to power with farmers’ support. However, after coming to power, it has shown its true face. It had promised to procure paddy without deductions, but now deductions of around 10–14 kg per quintal is being made. It was also promised that farmers would receive payment within 48 hours of procurement, but even after more than three weeks, payments have not been made. Farmers are suffering, while the government remains inactive. He said the BJP’s promises have turned out to be empty and that the government is discouraging farmers from cultivating paddy.