BJD, Congress target government over mismanagement at mandis; BJP responds 

The double whammy of unseasonal rain and mismanagement at paddy procurement centres (mandis) being faced by farmers has intensified politics in Odisha. 

Opposition BJD and Congress on Saturday targeted the ruling BJP government over paddy being collected at mandis amid mismanagement. They both accused the state government of mismanagement and lack of oversight in the ongoing procurement process.

“The government’s system in place to ascertain the Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards will surpass the one implemented by the previous government. As the outside traders have been denied entry into Odisha, the farmers can’t sell their paddy. The paddy they have now will go to waste in this unseasonal rain and the farmers will be deprived of selling their produce,” said Congress MLA Ashok Das. 

Also Read: Untimely rain, adverse weather conditions perturb paddy farmers in Cuttack

Taking a swipe at the ruling BJP, Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya said, “Thousands of quintals of paddy stored by farmers have gone to waste as they didn’t get any protection. The quality of paddy has deteriorated due to the unseasonal rain and bad weather conditions. What will the farmers do now? Some farmers have harvested their crops but are waiting for tokens. And some farmers have tokens but they haven’t harvested their crops.”

Responding to the statements of Das and Acharya, Cooperation Minister Pradeep Balsamant said, “Even if there are sheds at mandis, tarpaulin sheets have been provided to farmers. Where there is no shed, such sheets have been distributed to farmers. So, the possibility of paddy getting drenched at mandis is very slim. At some places in Jagatsinghpur, paddy crops have been submerged in rainwater. These crops may sprout. In that case, the government will provide compensation.”