Odisha Undertakes Satellite-Based Verification of Kharif Paddy Cultivation

State Government Ensures Systematic Field Verification of Suspected Plots

As the ongoing Kharif season progresses, the Odisha government has intensified efforts to verify suspected non-cultivated paddy plots using satellite imagery. The initiative aims to identify genuine paddy cultivation in registered land parcels and accurately flag non-cultivated areas.

Over 26 Lakh Plots Identified for Survey

So far, the state has identified 26,14,137 plots across 30 districts for field surveys. Of these, verification of 24,94,437 plots has already been completed, marking significant progress in the drive. All plots flagged as suspected will undergo thorough on-ground verification by district officials.

Survey Results: 5.46 Lakh Plots Confirmed as Paddy Land

Based on field verification conducted to date, 5,46,591 plots have been confirmed as paddy-cultivated land, while approximately 19 lakh plots have been identified as non-paddy cultivated land. The District Revenue and Consolidation Services (DRCS) have been instructed to issue show-cause notices to farmers who mistakenly registered non-cultivated land as paddy land under the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025–26.

Three-Step Satellite Verification Process

The state’s verification mechanism follows a three-step process:

1. Satellite Identification – Suspected plots are flagged through satellite imagery.

2. Field Verification – District officials conduct on-ground checks to confirm cultivation status.

3. District-Level Approval – DRCS officials approve verified plots, after which tokens are generated for confirmed paddy cultivation.

Plots that remain classified as suspected or are confirmed as non-paddy land do not receive tokens, ensuring accountability.

Transparency and Fairness in Paddy Procurement

The satellite-based verification initiative is part of the state government’s commitment to ensure transparency, accuracy, and fairness in paddy procurement. It safeguards the interests of genuine farmers while preventing ineligible registrations and misuse of public resources.