- Chhattisgarh targets 16 mnt of paddy procurement
- FCI to lift 20 LMT parboiled rice from surplus states
Chhattisgarh has drawn up a district-wise custom milling plan for the 2025-26 Kharif marketing season, projecting procurement of 16 million tonnes (mnt) of paddy. The state’s cooperative marketing federation (MARKFED) has allocated milling targets between the Civil Supplies Corporation (NAN) for the state pool and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the central pool, based on last year’s milling capacity and district-level infrastructure.
The plan anticipates conversion of paddy into custom milled rice (CMR), with allocations split between raw rice, fortified rice kernels (FRK), parboiled rice, and 10% broken categories. The total milling target stands at 5.7 mnt for FCI and 1.6 mnt for NAN, reflecting the state’s role as a major contributor to the central pool.
District allocations
Bilaspur, Raipur, Durg, and Mahasamund emerged as the largest contributors, each tasked with delivering over 200,000 tonnes (t) of rice to the central pool. Smaller tribal districts such as Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Sukma will supply primarily to the state pool, with no allocation to FCI. The ratio of delivery orders (DOs) between NAN and FCI varies by district, ranging from 1:2 in high-capacity zones such as Bastar and Raigarh to 1:0 in low-capacity districts.
The plan also provides for flexibility, allowing inter-district transfers if procurement falls short or storage constraints arise. Milling deadlines have been set, with Chhattisgarh required to complete CMR delivery by 31 May 2026.
National procurement targets
The Food Corporation of India has separately approved procurement of 20 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of fortified parboiled rice from Chhattisgarh during the 2025-26 season, alongside 20 LMT from Telangana and 15 LMT from Odisha. These allocations follow a central assessment of demand under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare schemes, as well as historical lifting trends.
At the national level, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has fixed procurement estimates of 463.49 LMT of rice for the central pool. Punjab leads with 116 LMT, followed by Chhattisgarh at 73 LMT, Odisha at 40 LMT, and Uttar Pradesh at 39 LMT. Milling and delivery schedules vary by state, with deadlines stretching from March to September 2026 depending on crop cycles.
Market implications
The allocation underscores Chhattisgarh’s growing importance in India’s rice supply chain, particularly in fortified and parboiled segments. With milling spread across 33 districts, the state’s ability to meet targets will hinge on operational efficiency, storage capacity, and timely issuance of delivery orders. For FCI, the procurement plan ensures steady inflows into the central pool, balancing regional surpluses with national demand.
The roadmap also signals a continued policy emphasis on fortified rice distribution, aligning with government objectives to expand nutritional coverage under NFSA. Analysts expect procurement volumes to remain sensitive to actual paddy arrivals and milling yields, with adjustments likely as the season progresses.
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