New Delhi, Dec 16: A delegation of Odisha BJP leaders, including Members of Parliament and legislators, on Tuesday met Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi under the leadership of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The team reportedly urged the Centre to increase the procurement of parboiled rice from Odisha, raising the limit from 20 lakh metric tonnes to 25 lakh metric tonnes for the 2024–25 season.

ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସାଂସଦ, ବିଧାୟକ ଏବଂ ଅନ୍ୟ ନେତୃବୃନ୍ଦଙ୍କ ସହ ମୋର ସହଯୋଗୀ ତଥା କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଖାଉଟି ବ୍ୟାପାର, ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ସାଧାରଣ ବଣ୍ଟନ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ @JoshiPralhad ଙ୍କୁ ଭେଟି ରାଜ୍ୟର ଚାଷୀମାନଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱାର୍ଥକୁ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରେ ରଖି ଉଷୁନା ଚାଉଳ ଉଠାଣ ପରିମାଣ ୨୦ ଲକ୍ଷ ମେଟ୍ରିକ ଟନରୁ ବଢାଇ ୨୫ ଲକ୍ଷ ମେଟ୍ରିକ ଟନ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଅନୁରୋଧ କଲୁ ।

ଆମର… pic.twitter.com/2mUeyb21uu

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 16, 2025

In a post on X, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the importance of the move, noting that farmers are the “backbone of the economy” and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently prioritised farmers’ welfare. He stressed that enhanced procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) would directly benefit Odisha’s farmers and further strengthen the national food security framework.

Pradhan also expressed gratitude to the Centre for earlier increasing Odisha’s paddy procurement target from 50 lakh metric tonnes to 58 lakh metric tonnes, which he said boosted farmers’ confidence and ensured smoother procurement operations.

Odisha produces a significant quantity of parboiled rice, and timely procurement is seen as crucial for safeguarding farmers’ interests. The delegation submitted a formal memorandum to the Union Minister Joshi, emphasising that the proposed increase would not only support local farmers but also contribute to national food reserves.

The meeting signifies the BJP’s focus on agricultural issues in Odisha and its commitment to ensuring that farmers receive fair returns for their produce.