Bhubaneswar, February 24: Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Tuesday reiterated the State Government’s commitment to purchase all paddy from every registered farmer in the State. He said that all paddy will be purchased from farmers by March 31.
Minister Patra, while participating in an adjournment motion in the State Assembly said that not a single token given to farmers will be lapsed and not a single farmer will be deprived of paddy procurement.
“As per the promise made during elections, the Government is purchasing paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal. There was no mention of Rs 800 input subsidy. So far, 64.10 lakh metric tonne of paddy has been procured from 15 lakh farmers in the State. Accordingly, Rs 18,586 crore has been paid to farmers at a rate of Rs 3,100 per quintal,” said the Minister.
Hitting out at the BJD, the main opposition force in the State, the Minister said, “During the BJD Government’s tenure in 2023–2024, five lakh registered farmers were unable to sell their paddy. Now, paddy is being procured from all farmers. Attempts are being made to defame the Government.”
“The victory margin of 84,000 votes in the Nuapada by-election proves that that farmers have turned away from those who oppose them,” said Minister Patra.
On February 19, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also reiterated his Government’s commitment to purchase all paddy from every registered farmer in the State.
Notably, the Odisha Assembly has been witnessing repeated adjournments as the Opposition members were creating ruckus in the House over the farmers’ issues.
