<span style="color: #222222;">The Odisha government has procured more than 53 lakh 55 thousand metric tonnes of paddy till yesterday. This is an increase of about 24 thousand metric tonnes paddy than the total Kharif paddy procured last year. Paddy procured in the state during the on-going kharif marketing season till yesterday represents an increase of 21% as against the volume procured during the corresponding period last year. Similarly, as against 15th February last year, about 4 thousand more farmers have sold their paddy this year till yesterday.</span><br />