Odisha farmers resent delay in token issuance for paddy procurement

Hundreds of farmers in Bargarh district expressed discontentment over the tardy pace of kharif paddy procurement. While the adverse weather conditions affected the process, the delayed token distribution has spread outrage among the farmers who are now skeptical of the sale of their produce.

Even as the paddy procurement began on November 20 in the Bargarh district, the farmers are yet to get the tokens. While the farmers have already harvested their produce and brought it to the mandis for the procurement, the tokens issued are for the month of December. This has sparked farmers’ resentment who are now forced to take care of their paddy in the mandis in the chilling cold or have to spend more on transportation to take back the produce to their homes and bring it back on the token dates.

Lack of personal godowns and the need for an early sale to recover their investments pose significant challenges for the farmers. 

Also Read: Lapses in paddy procurement in mandis to invite stringent action

On the other hand, the farmers have also expressed dissatisfaction with the grain analyser machines used at the mandi (marketplace), citing faults in determining the quality of the various types of paddy cultivated in the district. The farmers argue that the current equipment fails to accurately assess their produce.

The farming community has urged high-level intervention to resolve these issues, highlighting the urgency for practical solutions to facilitate the paddy procurement process.

No comments in this connection could be obtained from the Civil supplies officer or other authorities concerned.