Bhubaneswar, December 21: Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra held a review of the Kharif procurement operations and urged officers to adhere to proper procedures to ensure smooth procurement from farmers and Mandis.

The review meeting, aimed at streamlining the procurement process, saw the presence of district administration officials and the local MLA. Patra emphasized that the district administration will take necessary steps to ensure that the entire procurement process proceeds without any hitches. "The meeting went well, and the district administration, along with the local MLA, is committed to making sure the procurement is carried out efficiently," said the Minister.

Patra assured that, following the review, the procurement process would be on the right track. He mentioned that several officers, including Mandi Nodal Officers and Supervisors, have been deployed to oversee the operations. "These officers have received proper training to ensure a smooth process and will play a key role in its success," he added.

In addition, Patra made it clear that there would be no room for malpractices such as "Katni-Chatni" (unauthorized deductions) during the Kharif procurement. This practice, which involves illegal reductions in paddy quantity by millers or Mandi officials under the pretext of poor quality, would not be tolerated. The Minister reiterated that the procurement process would be in line with the Indian government's policy of buying Kharif crops like paddy, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton at the declared Minimum Support Price (MSP) through agencies like the Food Corporation of India (FCI).