Government adopts Satellite Imagery of plots for transparency in paddy procurement

Bhubaneswar- 02.01.2026:With the ongoing Kharif season, the State Government has ensured that suspected non-cultivated paddy plots identified through Satellite Imagery are thoroughly verified systematically to identify genuine paddy cultivation in registered land parcels and to accurately identify non-cultivated paddy areas.

So far, the State has identified 26,14,137 Plots in 30 districts for Field Survey, out of whichthe survey of 24,94,437 plots has been completed in 30 Districts. The plots that have been identified as suspected plots will duly undergo a field verification

Based on the verification carried out to date, 5,46,591 plots have been categorised as paddy cultivated land, and approximately 19 Lakh are identified as non-paddy cultivated land. DRCS of all the Districts have been instructed to issue show-cause notices to farmers who have erroneously registered non-cultivated land as paddy cultivated land under Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025–26.

The process of Satellite Verification is 3 step mechanism in which the suspected plots are identified by Satellite Imager,y followed by field verification by District Officials. In the final stage, the verified plots are approved by the DRCS officials at the district level.

Upon approval, tokens are generated for plots where paddy cultivation is confirmed. In cases where plots continue to be classified as suspected or are found to be non-paddy land, tokens are not issued.

The satellite-based verification process is being implemented to ensure transparency, accuracy, and fairness in paddy procurement and to safeguard the interests of genuine farmers, while preventing ineligible registrations and misuse of public resources.