Centre raises Odisha’s rice procurement quota from 50 to 58 lakh tonnes for KMS 2024-25. State can lift rice in advance for food security programs till March 2026
OdishaPlus Bureau
In a notable advancement, the Centre has adjusted the rice procurement estimate for the state from 50 lakh tonnes to 58 lakh tonnes for the Kharif Marketing Season(KMS) of 2024-25.
Expressing its endorsement, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution stated, “The paddy procurement estimate (in terms of rice) for KMS 2024-25 has been increased from 40 lakh tonnes to 47 lakh tonnes for the kharif crop and from 10 lakh tonnes to 11 lakh tonnes for the rabi crop.”
The food ministry has also permitted the state government to lift rice in advance from the central pool to satisfy its internal needs under food security and supplementary nutrition programmes until March 2026. This advance lifting must be finalized by November.
With a surplus of 12 lakh tonnes of rice, the state government has been urging the central government to raise its quota set by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for KMS 2024-25 to accommodate paddy procurement for the upcoming kharif marketing season commencing on November 1.