Bhubaneswar, December 23: The main Opposition party- Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has warned of a statewide agitation if the Odisha government fails to address ongoing issues with paddy procurement. Party leader Pramila Mallik accused the state government of colluding with mill owners, leaving farmers frustrated due to the rejection of paddy under the FAQ standards. She vowed that the BJD would take to the streets if justice is not served to farmers.

BJD Vice President Sanjay Kumar Das Burma criticized the BJP government for failing to meet its procurement targets, claiming that only 20% of the expected paddy has been procured in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Despite claims of mandis opening in 11 districts, no procurement has begun, leaving farmers confused about the limits and process. Burma also raised concerns about conflicting statements from ministers regarding procurement limits, further fueling the confusion.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Ministerial Committee reviewed the Kharif 2025-26 paddy procurement and instructed officials to resolve farmers' issues promptly. As of now, 4,39,294 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from 97,972 farmers in the state.