TFP Bureau, Raipur, July 18, 2025: In a significant achievement for Chhattisgarh’s farmers, the Government of India has approved an increase in the state’s Central Pool rice procurement target from 70 lakh metric tonnes to 78 lakh metric tonnes — the highest-ever sanctioned for the state. This milestone comes following sustained efforts and direct intervention by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, including his meeting with Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi on June 24.
During the Kharif Marketing Season 2024–25, the state government procured a record-breaking 149.25 lakh metric tonnes of paddy at Minimum Support Price (MSP), reflecting the state’s unwavering commitment to farmer welfare. Of this, 118.17 lakh metric tonnes were identified for custom milling, including the requirement for welfare schemes and the public distribution system.
To manage the surplus, the state had proactively opted for auction-based disposal of excess stock. Orders have already been issued for 19 lakh metric tonnes, with timely lifting underway. The Food Department has ensured strict safeguards for the remaining paddy stock at procurement centres.
The Centre’s decision to increase the rice procurement target by 8 lakh metric tonnes is expected to prevent an estimated ₹1,200 crore financial burden on the state exchequer. It will also bolster the rollout of various welfare programs that rely on this essential commodity.
Expressing gratitude to the Centre, CM Sai termed the approval as a reflection of “coordinated, farmer-centric governance” between the Union and State governments. He reiterated his commitment to procuring every grain produced by farmers and assured millers and farming communities that their concerns would be addressed with urgency and positivity.
This move not only strengthens the fiscal resilience of the state but also underlines Chhattisgarh’s emergence as a national leader in paddy procurement and farmer-first governance.
