Odisha Paddy Procurement Crisis: Farmers Protest, Naveen Patnaik Targets BJP Government
Bhubaneswar: The paddy procurement process in Odisha has plunged into chaos during the Kharif 2025–26 season, leaving thousands of farmers stranded at mandis with unsold stock.
Delays in token distribution, halted lifting operations, and distress sales below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) have sparked widespread anger across the state.
The situation worsened after rice millers staged a strike over pending dues and milling charges, disrupting procurement despite the strike being called off on January 8, 2026.
Farmers in districts such as Bargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, and Sambalpur have resorted to road blockades and marches to collectors’ offices, demanding immediate government intervention.
Former Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has accused the BJP-led “double-engine” government of betraying farmers by failing to deliver on election promises, including input subsidies and bonuses.
BJD leaders have warned of statewide protests, calling the government’s assurances deceptive.
With agriculture forming the backbone of Odisha’s economy, the procurement crisis threatens farmer confidence ahead of the Rabi season and has triggered a political storm that shows no signs of abating.
