Kumar Bahukhandi
Raipur: The massive paddy procurement campaign underway in Chhattisgarh under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has achieved a historic milestone this year.
As of January 13, 2026, 105.14 lakh metric tons of paddy have been procured from 17,77,419 farmers during the Kharif marketing season 2025-26, for which a record amount of ₹23,448 crore has been paid to the farmers. This is the highest procurement and the highest payment made by January 13 in any year to date.
This achievement of the government becomes even clearer when compared to the figures up to January 13 in previous years. In the Kharif marketing season 2020-21, 72.15 LMT of paddy was procured from 17,49,003 farmers by January 13, and ₹13,550 crore was paid. In 2021-22, 68.77 LMT of paddy was procured from 17,09,834 farmers during the same period, and ₹13,410 crore was paid to the farmers.
In the Kharif marketing season 2022-23, 97.67 LMT of paddy was procured from 22,14,302 farmers by January 13, and ₹20,022 crore was paid. Compared to all these years, both the quantity of paddy procured and the amount disbursed to farmers in 2025-26 have reached their highest levels. The data clearly shows that while 72.15 LMT of paddy was procured in 2020-21, 68.77 LMT in 2021-22, and 97.67 LMT in 2022-23, a record 105.14 LMT of paddy has already been procured by January 13th of the 2025-26 season. Similarly, the amount paid to farmers has also increased significantly, reaching ₹23,448 crore.
This historic increase is proof that the state government’s transparent procurement system, timely payment system, and farmer-friendly policies have strengthened the trust of the state’s farmers. Farmers are receiving fair prices for their produce on time, which is strengthening their economic condition and giving a new impetus to the rural economy.
The state government is firmly committed to purchasing every grain from every eligible farmer and making timely payments, so that the farmers of Chhattisgarh can become more prosperous, self-reliant, and secure.
It is worth mentioning that the state government has ensured strict action against drying losses and irregularities in the storage of paddy procured at minimum support price during the Kharif marketing year 2024-25. Show cause notices were issued to the in-charge officers of procurement centers where a shortage of more than 0.5 percent but less than 1 percent was found. Departmental inquiries were initiated where the shortage was between 1 and 2 percent, while in-charge officers of centers with a shortage of more than 2 percent were suspended and departmental inquiries were initiated, and FIRs were registered in cases where criminal activity was found.
In the last two years, show cause notices have been issued to a total of 33 food inspectors and food officers for irregularities and negligence in paddy procurement and storage. FIRs have been registered against the in-charge officers of two procurement centers, and one in-charge officer has been suspended.
This clearly demonstrates that the government is working with a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and negligence. In accordance with the instructions issued by the government regarding the drying losses incurred during the Kharif marketing season 2023-24, show-cause notices have been issued against 6 District Marketing Officers and 6 Collection Centre In-charges.
This step is a decisive initiative to strengthen administrative accountability and prevent any negligence in the future. It is noteworthy that in the year 2018-19, a total of 80.38 lakh metric tons of paddy was procured from 25.61 lakh hectares of land, while during the tenure of the current government, the scope and quantity of procurement, and the direct benefits to farmers, have increased to historic levels.
It is worth mentioning that the Government of India had set a target of 78 lakh metric tons of rice under the Central Pool, against which approximately 116 lakh metric tons of paddy could be processed. The remaining paddy was disposed of through auction.
Due to insufficient warehouse capacity with the FCI for milling the rice procured as per the central target, the final disposal of the paddy took approximately 12 to 15 months, which likely resulted in drying losses at the collection centers. Currently, the lifting of paddy stored at the collection centers under the Kharif marketing season 2024-25 is in progress, and the lifting of paddy sold through auction is also underway. The actual assessment of total drying losses will be possible only after the complete disposal of all the paddy.
The state government’s clear message is that there will be no compromise at any level with the farmers’ money, grain, and trust. The entire process of paddy procurement, payment, storage, and disposal has been kept transparent, accountable, and under technological surveillance to ensure timely payment and secure storage for every farmer.
