Odisha is facing an unprecedented challenge as bumper paddy production leaves farmers struggling to store their harvest. With 73 lakh metric tons produced in 2026, the state’s mandis are overwhelmed, and storage facilities are running out of space.

Farmers in districts like Bargarh and Sambalpur have voiced their frustration, gathering in hundreds outside District Collector offices to protest mismanagement in paddy procurement and token distribution. Despite mandis opening for the Rabi season on the 11th, farmers report ongoing chaos and inefficiencies that have prevented them from selling their crops.

Political Tensions Rise Amid Farmers’ Concerns

The issue gained further attention after Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the state’s record paddy production at the Eastern Odisha Agriculture Meet in Bhubaneswar. He noted that Odisha ranks second in the country in rice production and stressed that additional storage space is urgently needed.

However, with no space to store the harvest, the state faces a logistical challenge. Previously, Kerala and Bihar used to purchase Odisha’s surplus rice, but with increased production in those states, they no longer do.

“We used to get 65 quintals of paddy, but now we are not even receiving that. We are worried about how to sell our paddy, which is why we came here for answers. They told us to apply for it. When we complained, they said hundreds are complaining and asked what difference our complaint would make,” said Dukhu Sahoo, a farmer from Bijepur.

The Chief Minister also sought the intervention of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to resolve the crisis swiftly, emphasizing that boosting farmers’ income remains a priority. The opposition, however, targeted the government, alleging that agriculture and farmers’ interests have been adversely affected, accusing the double-engine administration of failing to create warehouses in the past two years.

“What the government promised has not been fully delivered. We need district collectors to submit reports on how much paddy has been collected from farmers and whether all tokens have been distributed. Only then will the true situation in Odisha be clear,” said Sanjay Das Burma, BJD leader.

Political rhetoric has intensified as the protest continues, with MLAs and MPs’ representatives engaging with farmers to discuss solutions.

With paddy sales stalling and storage facilities stretched to the limit, Odisha faces mounting pressure to manage its harvest efficiently while addressing farmers’ grievances. The coming weeks will be critical in resolving both logistical and political challenges surrounding Odisha’s rice production.