The Central Government has increased Odisha’s rice procurement target for the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024–25 from 50 lakh tonnes to 58 lakh tonnes. As per the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the revised target includes 47 lakh tonnes from the Kharif crop and 11 lakh tonnes from the Rabi crop, up from 40 lakh tonnes and 10 lakh tonnes respectively. The move comes after Odisha sought a higher quota due to surplus rice stocks of about 12 lakh tonnes, which had caused storage and logistical issues. The state had urged the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the Centre to raise its quota before the new procurement season starting November 1. Last year, Odisha recorded a record paddy procurement of 92.64 lakh tonnes, equivalent to 63 lakh tonnes of rice, surpassing the FCI’s target of 50 lakh tonnes.