5,000 crore has been disbursed among farmers against paddy procurement.

Sambalpur: The Odisha government was on course to lift all paddy stocks from mandis in the state by March 31, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said on Sunday.

The minister further said that despite harassment, the millers cannot stop paddy procurement.

“Already 12.50 lakh farmers have registered this year against the registration of around 10 lakh farmers last year. Moreover, 3% additional paddy has been procured than the actual procurement of previous year,” Swain told the media on the sidelines of Republic Day celebrations in Sambalpur.

He said that Rs 5,000 crore has been disbursed among farmers against paddy procurement.

Notably, several farmers have been protesting after they failed to sell their paddy stock due to the token system in Western Odisha.

The minister, however, defended the system. “It is a unique attempt by the state government and the Food Supplies Department is monitoring it round-the-clock,” he said.