Under the governance of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Chhattisgarh began paddy procurement for the 2026-27 Kharif marketing season on November 15, with farmers bringing their produce to procurement centres across different districts. Paddy is being procured from farmers at the minimum support price under the Krishak Unnati Yojana i.e Rs 3100 per quintal.
In Mahasamund district, procurement began at the Jhalkhamharia paddy procurement centre. Farmers formally inaugurated the procurement process by performing a traditional puja of the weighing scale, platform and weights. District Panchayat CEO Anupama Anand, Additional Collector Shri Ravi Sahu, Society President Shri Shyam Sakar and the Food Department’s nodal officer reviewed the arrangements.
On the first day of procurement, two farmers sold their paddy at the Jhalkhamharia centre. Shri Vimal Dhruva of Labhra village sold 200 sacks, while Shri Chetan Chandrakar of Paterapali village sold 138 sacks. Vimal owns seven acres of farmland, while Chetan Chandrakar owns three acres.
Both farmers praised the arrangements at the procurement centre while interacting with reporters present at the site. They said that token-based procurement, an orderly process and the cooperation of officials helped them sell their paddy smoothly. The farmers also thanked Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and the state government for providing financial assistance of Rs 13,839 per acre.
The district administration has set a first day procurement target of 24,547 quintals of paddy from 616 farmers. Over all 1100 farmees will be selling their paddy during this season.
Interacting with the media at the procurement centre, CEO Anupama Anand said that paddy procurement is closely linked to farmers’ hard work and economic prosperity. She said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister, the state government is giving priority to farmers’ interests and has decided to provide input assistance of Rs 13,839 per acre to paddy-growing farmers under the Krishak Unnati Yojana for the 2026-27 Kharif marketing season.
To prevent illegal paddy transportation, the administration has also established 15 checkpoints across the district. So far, nearly 300 bags of illegally transported paddy have been seized.