Bhubaneswar, Jan 2: The Odisha Government has adopted satellite imagery to strengthen transparency and accountability in paddy procurement during the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025–26, officials said on Friday.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring that only genuine cultivators benefit from procurement while preventing misuse of public resources through false registrations, the added.

Officials said that suspected non-cultivated plots identified through satellite imagery are being systematically verified to confirm actual paddy cultivation. A total of 26,14,137 plots across 30 districts were identified for survey, of which verification has been completed for 24,94,437 plots. The large-scale exercise combines technology with field-level inspections to ensure accuracy.

Based on the verification carried out so far, 5,46,591 plots have been categorised as paddy cultivated land, while nearly 19 lakh plots have been identified as non-paddy land. District Registrars of Cooperative Societies (DRCS) have been instructed to issue show-cause notices to farmers who erroneously registered non-cultivated land as paddy fields.

The satellite verification process follows a three-step mechanism. First, suspected plots are identified using satellite imagery. Second, district officials conduct field verification. Finally, DRCS officials approve the classification. Tokens are issued only for plots confirmed as paddy cultivated, while suspected or non-paddy plots are excluded from token generation.

Authorities emphasised that the satellite-based verification system is designed to safeguard the interests of genuine farmers, ensure fairness in procurement, and prevent ineligible claims. The government believes that the initiative will enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and uphold the integrity of the procurement process during the Kharif season.