New Delhi/Bargarh – Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit raised a serious concern in the Lok Sabha regarding the slow pace of rice lifting from Food Corporation of India godowns in Odisha. He urged the Central Government to immediately act upon the increasing stockpile and ensure timely evacuation of rice to prevent wastage and financial losses to farmers. According to his statement, during the current procurement cycle, Odisha has already procured 73.5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from both Kharif and Rabi seasons, out of which 49.6 lakh metric tonnes of rice has been produced. The state’s annual requirement stands at only 26 lakh metric tonnes, leaving more than 23 lakh metric tonnes stored in FCI warehouses.
The MP expressed concern that due to transportation and rail rack availability issues, FCI has been lifting rice at a slower pace than required. Although the monthly target was set at 1.7 lakh metric tonnes, the actual lifting is far below, leading to surplus rice lying in godowns for long periods and now facing the risk of spoilage. This stagnation, he warned, is not only resulting in heavy financial loss for farmers but also wastage of national resources. He demanded that the Centre provide accurate stock information and ensure sufficient railway and transport arrangements for urgent lifting. Priority should be given to shifting the rice that is at risk of being damaged and distributing it swiftly. He also called for the immediate arrangement of additional and temporary storage facilities to prevent further deterioration of stock.
In a related development, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo recently led a high-level delegation to New Delhi to push for the Centre’s intervention. The team met with Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, and flagged the issue of delayed lifting by the FCI. They highlighted how this delay is disrupting the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season 2024–25 and blocking the procurement process for new arrivals.
Odisha has set a record this season by procuring 92.64 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, translating into about 62.62 lakh metric tonnes of rice—the highest in the state’s history. After meeting its internal consumption for both Kharif and Rabi, the state is left with a surplus of 12 lakh metric tonnes. However, the delay by FCI in lifting this surplus has created logistical bottlenecks and threatens to impact both the supply chain and future procurement.
This concern has also been formally communicated by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in a letter to the Centre, seeking swift action to clear stocks and create space for upcoming procurement.
