Odisha Assembly Erupts Over Paddy Procurement Irregularities | Farmers, Opposition, Government Clash
The Odisha Assembly witnessed heated exchanges as opposition parties accused the government of colluding with millers and exploiting farmers during the ongoing paddy procurement season.
Congress legislators alleged that farmers were forced to sell their produce at lower prices due to deductions and mismanagement at procurement centres.
They highlighted cases where farmers received procurement tokens for fewer acres than they cultivated, leaving them helpless.
The BJP defended the government, claiming procurement was being done at Rs 3,100 per quintal under the “Modi guarantee” and argued that farmers were satisfied.
They also cited NCRB data on farmer suicides during earlier regimes to question the opposition’s credibility. Meanwhile, the BJD staged protests, adding to the uproar.
Food Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra rejected the allegations, assuring that all registered farmers’ paddy would be procured by March 31.
He reported that in the 2024‑25 kharif season, 92.64 lakh metric tonnes were purchased from 19.73 lakh farmers, with Rs 28,619 crore disbursed. For the current season, procurement has already crossed 64 lakh metric tonnes.
The debate ended with noisy protests, walkouts, and sharp exchanges, underscoring the political tension surrounding farmer welfare and procurement management in Odisha.
