Farmers Spend Sleepless Nights In Biting Cold Awaiting Paddy Procurement In Sonepur

Distressing scenes have come to the fore from Binika in Subarnapur district as farmers are spotted spending sleepless nights in strong winter chill at Shankara mandi due to inordinate delay in the procurement of their harvest. 

As per reports, the farmers have received tokens to sell their crops at the Mandi. However, their paddy is yet to be procured due to the absence of millers. As a result, farmers are forced to spend sleepless nights outside the mandi under open sky to protect their produce from anti-social elements and unseasonal rain.

“We have stocked our products at the mandi after receiving tokens. But our paddy is yet to be procured. We have no other alternative but to protect our paddy by spending sleepless nights for the last 10 days,” said a farmer.

“We have no money to repay our loans as our products are yet to be sold. We are helpless now," he added. 

Binika Tehsildar and other officials had reportedly visited the mandi on Saturday and assured the farmers for early procurement of the paddy. However, any action in this regard is yet to be undertaken.

“It is increasingly becoming difficult to protect our paddy by spending nights after nights in the chilly winter under open sky. We are also in urgent need of money to start cultivation again. We request the district administration to start procurement of paddy as soon as possible,” said another farmer.
 

(Edited by Suryakant Jena)