Raipur — Paddy procurement in Chhattisgarh is not just an agricultural activity; it is the backbone of the state’s rural economy. It directly affects farmers’ incomes, state finances, and the stability of the Public Distribution System (PDS). As paddy is the main crop of the state, procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) plays a crucial role in ensuring income security for farmers and maintaining food grain reserves.
To improve transparency and efficiency, the state government introduced a digital token-based procurement system and platforms like AgriPortal. While these reforms have brought some improvements, farmers on the ground continue to face several practical and economic challenges.
Paddy Procurement Schedule and MSP
Paddy procurement in Chhattisgarh is scheduled from 15 November 2025 to 31 January 2026. The MSP has been fixed at ₹3,100 per quintal. To manage procurement smoothly, around 2,739 procurement centres have been set up across the state.
Token System: What Was the Aim?
The government launched the “Token Tuhar Haath” mobile app to allow farmers to obtain procurement tokens from home. The idea was to eliminate long queues, prevent corruption, and ensure that farmers could sell their produce at a fixed date and time.
Although the token system has increased transparency, many farmers still struggle to use it effectively.
Where the System Is Failing Farmers
1. Digital and Connectivity Issues
Poor internet connectivity in rural areas, lack of smartphones, and limited digital literacy make it difficult for many farmers to generate tokens on time.
2. Dependence on Patwari Girdawari (Crop Survey)
Paddy procurement limits are entirely based on girdawari, the crop survey conducted by the patwari. This record includes land area, crop sown, and estimated production, which is uploaded to AgriPortal and used to decide how much paddy a farmer can sell.
However, errors are common:
- Delayed updates
- Missing land parcels
- Incorrect entries
- Late uploading of documents
As a result, actual production is often underreported on the portal.
21 Quintals per Acre: The Biggest Bottleneck
The government uses an average benchmark of 21 quintals per acre for procurement, based on district-level yield data. But many farmers, using better seeds, irrigation, and modern practices, produce 25–35 quintals per acre.
These high-performing farmers are not allowed to sell their full produce at MSP. In economic terms, this is an “efficiency penalty”, where better-performing farmers are disadvantaged.
Direct Economic Impact on Farmers
- Loss of MSP benefits: Extra paddy must be sold to private traders at ₹200–300 per quintal below MSP.
- Disincentive for investment: Farmers who spend more on quality inputs and technology are discouraged.
- Expansion of informal markets: Unreported paddy sales affect state stock estimates and PDS planning.
- Cash flow problems: Incomplete MSP sales disrupt financial planning for the next crop season.
Delays in Token Distribution and Long Queues
Farmers report frequent delays in token generation due to:
- Heavy server load when procurement begins
- Limited system capacity
- Poor rural connectivity
- Verification delays caused by data mismatches
This leads to overcrowding at procurement centres, time loss, and financial stress.
Administrative and Logistical Challenges
- Improper capacity planning at procurement centres
- Weak grievance redressal mechanisms
- A growing digital divide affecting small and elderly farmers
What Can Be Done?
Experts suggest several reforms to make the system farmer-friendly:
- Dynamic, yield-based token allocation
- A pre-procurement window for record corrections
- Multiple tokens for high-yield farmers
- Digital girdawari using GPS, photo-tagging, and time stamps
- Offline token options and stronger farmer helpdesks
Conclusion
Chhattisgarh’s paddy procurement system has become more transparent and structured due to digital reforms. However, the 21 quintals per acre ceiling, errors in girdawari, rigid AgriPortal rules, and token delays continue to prevent farmers from selling their full production at MSP.
If the system is made more flexible, region-specific, data-driven, and farmer-centric, it can protect farmers’ incomes while strengthening the state’s food security and rural economy.