Bhubaneswar, December 16: A delegation of BJP MPs, MLAs and senior leaders from the State led by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday met Union Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi and requested him to increase the procurement limit of parboiled rice from Odisha from 20 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) to 25 LMT.

The delegation also submitted a memorandum to Union Minister Joshi.

Expressing gratitude to Union Minister Joshi for increasing rice procurement target for Odisha for the Kharif and Rabi seasons from 50 lakh metric tonnes to 58 lakh metric tonnes for the year 2024–25 in Odisha, the delegation urged Joshi to consider the fresh proposal for an increase in the procurement limit, keeping the interests of the farmers of Odisha.

“The increase in the procurement limit of rice during Rabi and Kharif seasons has boosted the confidence of the State’s farming community and ensured the smooth conduct of the procurement process,” said the memorandum.

“Since Odisha produces a particularly large quantity of parboiled rice and procurement process for the 2025-26 Kharif season has already started, immediate lifting of parboiled rice has become absolutely essential,” it stated.

The delegation urged the Union Minister to increase the lifting quantity of Odisha’s parboiled rice under the Central Pool for both the Kharif and Rabi seasons from the current 20 lakh metric tonnes to 25 lakh metric tonnes.

“If this surplus parboiled rice is lifted promptly by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), farmers in Odisha will benefit significantly, and the national food security system will be further strengthened,” the memorandum further said.