Naveen Patnaik attacks Mohan Majhi government over paddy procurement

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of throwing the paddy procurement process in the Kharif season into disarray, leaving thousands of farmers sleepless as they wait to sell their harvest.

In a sharply-worded letter addressed to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday (February 9, 2026), BJD supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik says, “agriculture is the lifeline of Odisha, yet the current Kharif procurement season has become a period of profound struggle for our farmers due to administrative apathy and the blatant violation of promises made to the people.”

“During the 2024 elections, as per Point No. 2 of your Party’s (BJP’s) manifesto, you made solemn commitments to the farming community regarding enhanced minimum support price and stopping of Katni-Chhatni (deduction of paddy on account of fair average quality). However, the ground reality across Mandis tells a story of betrayal,” Mr. Patnaik mentioned in his letter.

“Thousands of farmers are spending sleepless nights under the open sky, guarding their paddy from dew and theft, as the lifting of stocks remains agonisingly slow. The lack of basic facilities, the failure of the token system, and the delay in payment — which was promised within 48 hours through direct benefit transfer but is taking weeks in many cases — have pushed the farmers to the brink of agitation,” the former Chief Minister drew attention to.

Also read: Farmer organisation calls dawn-to-dusk Odisha bandh over ‘paddy procurement mess’ on January 28

“Is it not a failure in fulfilment of electoral promises of BJP? It may be mentioned here that payment to farmers through DBT within 48 hours of procurement was promised in Point-2 of the BJP election manifesto,” he asked.

“Despite repeated assurances of a hassle-free procurement, farmers are being subjected to arbitrary deductions of 5 kg to 7 kg per quintal under the guise of moisture content or poor quality. In many districts, this exploitation is happening in broad daylight, often with the alleged collusion of millers and local officials, forcing farmers into a mutual agreement that robs them of their hard-earned income,” said Mr. Patnaik.

“Your government promised an input subsidy of Rs 800 per quintal to support all farmers. However, the recent decision to cap this subsidy at a maximum of 150 quintals per farmer is a clear breach of trust,” he remarked.

Stating that the combination of Katni Chhatni, the 150-quintal cap, and the slow pace of procurement has created a vacuum being exploited by unscrupulous traders and millers, the former CM said farmers, desperate to clear their debts, are being forced into distress sales far below the MSP.

The BJD supremo demanded lifting of the 150-quintal ceiling on the input subsidy, payment to farmers through DBT within 48 hours of procurement and 100% lifting of paddy lying in the open sky within a fixed 72-hour window.

Reacting to the letter, BJP State president Manmohan Samal said, “during Mr. Patnaik’s regime, the government struggled to give ₹100 input subsidy per quintal, whereas the BJP government is paying ₹800. They are deceiving people with false information out of jealousy.”