There is welcome news for farmers in Jharkhand. The state government has decided to begin the official paddy procurement process from December 15 for the ongoing kharif season. This year, the government has set a target to procure around 60 lakh quintals of paddy. To ensure smooth operations, a total of 783 paddy procurement centres have been established across the state.
According to the Department of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, paddy procurement will be carried out as per the scheduled plan. The minister has appealed to cabinet colleagues, Members of Parliament, and MLAs to visit procurement centres in their respective constituencies and formally inaugurate the process, so that farmers do not face any inconvenience.
As per the state’s e-procurement portal, the Jharkhand Cabinet had decided on December 8 to provide farmers with an additional bonus of ₹81 per quintal over and above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) fixed by the central government for the 2025–26 financial year. For this purpose, the state cabinet has approved a total allocation of ₹48.60 crore. Including MSP and the bonus, farmers will receive a total price of ₹2,450 per quintal of paddy.
The government has also clarified that payments for procured paddy will be made in a single instalment, unlike earlier practices where payments were made in phases. This step is expected to provide immediate liquidity to farmers and strengthen their financial position.
According to data from the e-procurement portal, during 2024–25, the government procured 40.08 lakh quintals of paddy against a target of 60 lakh quintals. In 2023–24 and 2022–23, procurement stood at 17.02 lakh quintals and 17.16 lakh quintals, respectively. During those years, the state also faced drought-like conditions.
The government is hopeful that timely procurement and improved arrangements this season will help achieve figures closer to the target. Farmers, too, are optimistic that procurement at MSP along with the bonus will ensure them a fair and remunerative price for their produce.
