Kumar Bahukhandi
File photograph of paddy procurement in Chhattisgarh. The state government has approved 360 additional procurement centres, increasing the total to 3,100 for the 2026–27 season. Procurement will begin on November 15, 2026.Source-Internet
Procurement network expands to 3,100 centres; more than two lakh farmers expected to benefit from shorter journeys and reduced waiting times
Key Highlights
• 360 new paddy procurement centres approved, increasing the state’s total from 2,740 to 3,100.
• More than two lakh registered farmers are expected to benefit directly from the additional centres.
• Paddy procurement for the 2026–27 kharif marketing season will run from November 15, 2026, to January 15, 2027.
• Farmers can obtain online tokens through the ‘Tunhar Token’ mobile app, with the facility available round the clock from November 10.
• Trial runs at cooperative societies are scheduled for November 2–5 to test token procedures and technical arrangements.
• Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasised convenient procurement, reduced expenses and timely payment to farmers.
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has on Friday October 30 , 2026 approved 360 additional paddy procurement centres for the 2026–27 kharif marketing season, expanding the statewide network from 2,740 to 3,100 centres. According to the government release, the expansion is expected to directly benefit more than two lakh registered farmers by bringing procurement facilities closer to their villages and reducing travel, transport expenses and waiting times.
The decision forms part of preparations for paddy procurement beginning on November 15, 2026, and continuing until January 15, 2027. Alongside the additional centres, the government has announced advance testing of procurement arrangements and online token booking through the ‘Tunhar Token’ mobile application.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said respecting farmers’ labour and improving their access to procurement services were central to the government’s priorities.
“Our priority is to ensure that farmers do not face unnecessary difficulties while selling their paddy. All necessary arrangements are being made to make the procurement process simpler, more accessible and convenient,” Sai said.
He emphasised that the objective extended beyond increasing the number of centres to improving the entire experience of selling agricultural produce.
Procurement facilities closer to villages
The additional centres are intended to reduce the distance farmers must travel with their harvest. Access to a centre within or near their village can help lower transport expenditure and reduce the time spent arranging vehicles and moving produce.
The expansion is also expected to ease pressure on existing centres that receive large numbers of farmers during the procurement season.
Distributing procurement across a wider network should help officials organise weighing, quality checks and other procedures more efficiently. However, the extent of these improvements will depend on the centres becoming operational and the arrangements functioning effectively during the season.
The release said small and marginal farmers were among those expected to benefit from easier access and reduced demands on their time.
More than two lakh farmers expected to benefit
According to the government, the 360 newly approved centres will directly serve more than two lakh registered farmers.
The additional facilities will expand procurement capacity by allowing purchases to take place at more locations simultaneously. Farmers attached to the new centres will be able to obtain tokens and bring their paddy for sale according to the prescribed schedule.
The government expects this decentralised arrangement to reduce dependence on older centres and help accommodate farmers within the procurement period.
Sai said farmers should be able to complete the sale of their produce without avoidable expenditure or prolonged disruption to their other agricultural and household responsibilities.
“The approval of new centres is intended to make the entire paddy-selling process easier for farmers. Their time, labour and money must be respected,” the Chief Minister said.
Procurement scheduled from November 15 to January 15
Paddy will be purchased from registered farmers between November 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027, under the arrangements announced for the current marketing season.
Preparations are being undertaken before procurement begins so that farmers can access organised services from the outset.
The wider network is intended to enable procurement to proceed simultaneously at multiple locations, reducing the concentration of farmers at a limited number of centres.
The government has also emphasised timely payment following procurement, in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
Online tokens through ‘Tunhar Token’
Farmers will again have access to online token booking through the ‘Tunhar Token’ mobile app.
The facility is intended to reduce repeated visits to cooperative societies and the need to queue in person merely to obtain a token. Farmers will be able to access the online service from their mobile phones, with booking available 24 hours a day from November 10.
Advance access to tokens will help farmers plan transport and prepare their produce for the scheduled sale date.
The government expects the system to support more orderly arrivals at procurement centres and reduce unnecessary crowding.
The round-the-clock facility relates to obtaining online tokens; paddy sales will take place according to the allotted schedule and applicable procurement arrangements.
Trial runs before the season begins
Cooperative societies will conduct trial runs from November 2 to November 5 to test token-related procedures and the technical systems required for procurement.
The exercise is intended to identify operational difficulties before actual purchases begin, allowing time for corrective action.
Token booking will open on November 10, five days before the start of procurement. This will give farmers an opportunity to make advance arrangements for transporting and selling their harvest.
Testing the system ahead of the season is part of the government’s effort to reduce avoidable difficulties once centres begin receiving paddy.
Reducing the cost of selling produce
The government said improving farmers’ returns also required attention to the expenses involved in reaching procurement centres.
Long journeys can increase vehicle charges and require farmers to spend more time away from their fields and other work. A nearby centre can reduce these demands, particularly for households managing smaller quantities of produce.
Similarly, better distribution of arrivals and reduced congestion can help limit time spent waiting for weighing and other formalities.
The new centres and online token arrangements are intended to address these practical concerns alongside the purchase of paddy itself.
Sai stresses reliable and convenient procurement
The Chief Minister described farmers as a foundation of Chhattisgarh’s economy and said their contribution must be supported by a dependable procurement system.
He said the government’s responsibility included providing a fair return for produce as well as making the process of selling it convenient and transparent.
“Our commitment is clear: no farmer should face unnecessary hardship in selling paddy. We want to save their time, labour and money while ensuring that their hard work receives the respect it deserves,” Sai said.
He added that the additional procurement centres, online tokens and advance testing were connected measures aimed at improving farmers’ experience throughout the season.
Download: District-wise List of 360 Approved Paddy Procurement Centres for 2026–27 (PDF)
