Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): More than 22.27 lakh farmers have registered to sell their paddy to government procurement agencies during the ongoing Kharif season 2026-27 in Odisha, marking a 13% increase over the previous year.
Representational Image
Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta informed the Odisha Assembly about the registration figures in a written reply to a question raised by Congress MLA from Jeypore, Tara Prasad Bahinipati, on Wednesday.
Registrations Cross 22 Lakh
According to the minister, a total of 22,27,713 farmers have completed registration for paddy procurement through various cooperative institutions across the state.
The registration process has been facilitated through 2,962 cooperative societies, 35 Women’s Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) and four Pani Panchayats.
The number of registered farmers has increased by 2,59,901 compared with the previous Kharif season, translating into a growth of around 13%.
No Exclusion Reports Received
The Cooperation Minister said the government has so far not received information regarding farmers who sought registration but were left out of the process during the current Kharif season.
The department, however, has noted that some farmers in flood-affected areas did not register for paddy sale this year.
Floods Affect Registration In Two Districts
In Balasore district, 301 fewer farmers registered for paddy procurement compared with last year, while Bhadrak recorded a decline of 1,480 registrations.
The government attributed the lower participation in these areas to recurring floods that affected farming communities.
Despite the decline in registrations in the two districts, the overall number of farmers enrolled for paddy procurement across Odisha has risen significantly compared with the previous year.