Jeypore: Millers from Kalahandi district will now lift paddy from the Rabi Mandis of Koraput district. After millers from Koraput officially informed in writing that they would not participate in paddy procurement from the Rabi Mandis, the Food Supplies Department initially granted permission to millers from Balangir district to lift the paddy. However, as Balangir millers declined for undisclosed reasons, the state Food Supplies Department has now approved 35 millers from Kalahandi district to carry out the procurement.
This decision was conveyed through departmental letter no. 7271 dated 27.5.2025, issued by K. Sudarshan Chakraborty, Director of Operations, Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation, to the Koraput District Collector. The Collector has been instructed to prepare a list of custom millers for lifting paddy within the stipulated time. Priority will be given to millers located closer to the Mandis, and those with a good track record will be selected as per guidelines.
While preparing the list, it is also advised to ensure that procurement from local Mandis within the district is not adversely affected. This Rabi season, the procurement target has been set at 8 lakh quintals of paddy from the Rabi Mandis.
Some local millers have expressed interest in lifting the paddy. However, despite their willingness, the opportunity has been given to outside millers. Thirty-five millers have already signed agreements and will begin lifting once Mandis become fully operational.
Concerns have been raised about whether the procured paddy will actually reach Kalahandi or if it will be diverted and sold to middlemen. Currently, the open market price for paddy is around ₹1,800 per quintal. At this rate, millers from Kalahandi, local millers, and middlemen may all be involved in purchasing paddy.
Additionally, farmers are reportedly receiving an extra ₹80 to ₹110 per quintal as a bonus for uncut paddy, meaning a total of approximately ₹1,900 per quintal. The same quantity of paddy sold in Koraput will be officially recorded as purchased in Kalahandi.
Millers from Kalahandi will also receive transport reimbursement from the Food Supplies Department, ranging from ₹160 to ₹170 per quintal. Therefore, farmers selling paddy locally won’t have to bear any transport costs. However, there are growing concerns over possible large-scale corruption—potentially involving crores of rupees—in the name of transportation expenses to Kalahandi.
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