Will BJD Take to the Streets Over Paddy Procurement Issues?
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Synopsis
In light of unresolved issues concerning paddy procurement, the Biju Janata Dal threatens state-wide protests. Key leaders express concerns over government inefficiencies and contradictory statements regarding procurement limits, leaving farmers in distress. With procurement operations yet to commence in several districts, the situation is critical as farmers demand justice.
Key Takeaways
- BJD warns of protests if farmers' issues are not addressed.
- Confusion over procurement limits hinders farmers' trust.
- Government's inefficiency in starting procurement operations raises concerns.
- Farmers demand clarity on the actual amount of paddy to be purchased.
- Current procurement figures show a significant number of farmers engaged.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 23 (NationPress) The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) issued a warning on Tuesday regarding potential statewide protests if the state government does not address numerous issues concerning farmers and paddy procurement.
During a press conference at the party headquarters, BJD leader and chief whip in the assembly, Pramila Mallik, expressed that the alliance between mill owners and the state government has caused significant disillusionment among farmers. She criticized the ongoing rejections of grain under the pretext of FAQ standards and announced that the BJD would take to the streets if farmers are not treated justly.
Party vice president Sanjay Kumar Das Burma pointed out in the press conference that despite the BJP government in the state boasting about providing an input subsidy of Rs 800 per quintal, it has failed to guarantee farmers their rightful payments. He claimed that in the fiscal year 2024–25, only about 20 percent of the targeted paddy procurement had been achieved.
“Even though the kharif paddy collection season has commenced this year, procurement operations have not yet started. The government had announced the opening of mandis in 11 districts, but no procurement has commenced there. Farmers in these districts are now protesting. There is widespread uncertainty regarding how much paddy will be purchased per token, with unofficial reports indicating only 100 quintals per token,” stated Burma.
Concerns were raised about conflicting statements from ministers regarding procurement limits. The senior BJD leader noted that while the Food Supplies Minister declared that procurement would not exceed the fixed annual limit, the Cooperation Minister claimed that up to 150 quintals would be purchased per token.
He also referred to a previous statement from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who had assured that all fair quality paddy would be procured.
“Which of these statements should we trust?” he questioned, emphasizing the evident lack of coordination. He further accused the government of intentionally reducing procurement quantities through geo-tagging, satellite surveys, FAQ standards, and grain analysers.
In contrast, while assessing the Kharif 2025-26 paddy procurement, the Inter-Ministerial Committee and the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment, K.V. Singh Deo, instructed officials to assist farmers and promptly address their issues in the paddy procurement process.
The committee recommended that officials involved in this process should regularly visit the mandis.
As of now, Kharif 2025-26 paddy procurement is ongoing in the state. According to available data, 4,39,294 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from 97,972 farmers in the state through various mandis.
Point of View
It reflects broader agricultural concerns that resonate across the nation. Farmers are vital to our economy, and their grievances warrant immediate attention. National discourse should focus on ensuring that agricultural policies are transparent and equitable, fostering trust between farmers and the government.
NationPress
24/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of paddy procurement in Odisha?
As of now, Kharif 2025-26 paddy procurement is ongoing in Odisha, with 4,39,294 metric tonnes procured from 97,972 farmers.
What are the key concerns raised by the BJD regarding paddy procurement?
The BJD has raised concerns about grain rejections based on FAQ standards and a lack of clarity on procurement limits, leading to farmer dissatisfaction.
How has the state government responded to the BJD's warnings?
The state government has been instructed to cooperate with farmers and resolve their problems in the paddy procurement process, as per the Deputy Chief Minister's directives.
