Bhubaneswar, Feb 23 (NationPress) In the face of protests led by the opposition over claims of mismanagement in paddy procurement, Odisha's Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Suresh Pujari, asserted on Monday that the state government is steadfast in its pledge to uphold the dignity and respect of the "Annadata," referring to farmers in the region.

Pujari emphasized, "Our administration is resolutely dedicated to safeguarding the dignity and respect of our 'Annadata,' our farming brothers and sisters. Our foremost goal is to ensure transparency, guaranteed income, and the right to live with dignity for every farmer in Odisha."

In a subtle critique of the opposition, Pujari attributed the significant mismanagement in paddy procurement at Mandis across Odisha to previous administrations, asserting that the current government has no intention of concealing the realities of the situation.

He acknowledged that initial pressures have emerged stemming from inadequate infrastructure, issues with storage facilities in certain areas, a surge in farmer registrations following the introduction of Input Assistance, the registration of additional agricultural land, and a notable shift towards paddy cultivation as opposed to other crops. However, he sees this as a testament to the success of the state's agricultural policies, indicating that farmers now trust the government to support them. To address these pressures, measures are being implemented to enhance infrastructure going forward, Pujari stated.

The minister explained that developing infrastructure is a gradual and systematic endeavor, with the state government initiating 973 infrastructure projects in Mandis based on identified needs. Of these, 212 have already been completed, and another 466 are approaching completion.

Pujari also announced plans to establish 100 model Mandis throughout the state, accompanied by efforts to construct warehouses with a total capacity of 500,000 metric tonnes.

He noted that the government's objective is to transform the current challenges into opportunities, aiming to develop a modern and well-equipped mandi system in the near future.

The paddy procurement process is advancing smoothly across the state, with only minor issues reported at Mandis, and no delays in payments, according to the minister. He highlighted that priority is being given to small, marginal, and sharecropping farmers before addressing the needs of larger farmers.

During the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24 under the preceding administration, a total of 70.88 lakh metric tonnes of paddy were procured, benefiting 15.32 lakh farmers. In contrast, under the current BJP-led government, 63.46 lakh metric tonnes have already been procured during the KMS 2025-26, aiding over 14.83 lakh farmers.

The procurement process is scheduled to continue until March 31. In KMS 2024-25, Odisha successfully procured over 92.64 lakh tonnes of paddy, benefiting 19.73 lakh farmers, with a total of Rs 28,719 crore transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).